best books on financial education

Top 5 Financial Literacy Books for Future Success

Financial literacy is an important part of creating the future you want. How do wealthy people spend and save their money? To support financial understanding, our CFO, John Witty and I created a list of the top 5 financial literacy books for future success.

How Do We Choose Our Book Reviews?

Forbes Books only accepts manuscripts that represent the best of each industry. Even though we only have five authors highlighted here, I wanted to keep this review to the books I’ve read or listened to as an audiobook.

I chose these five books because I was looking for tangible information that readers could use immediately after reading.

The criteria was based on books with:

• Actionable plans
• Proven methodologies with evidence to support the author’s claims
• Strategies used to be successful

Infinity Investing

In his own words, Toby Mathis declares this book to be “ about making money no matter what the market is doing and for an infinite period of time .”

Many of us invest with stocks and bonds and try to time the market fluctuations, known as Bear and Bull markets.

Toby explains trying to trade with professionals with over 20-30 years of experience is like thinking you can beat LeBron James in a game of 1-on-1 basketball.

There’s a chance we can win sometimes, but the likelihood of success against the best traders on the planet resembles our odds of beating LeBron James in basketball.

How Does Infinity Investing Help Me With Finances?

Toby does a great job of explaining the history of the market, why things are the way they are in financial markets, and how to calculate and measure an income spreadsheet to build an infinity investing plan .

In chapter 13, Toby outlines a 90-day plan for continuous financial growth. He does a great job of explaining his plan throughout the chapter, showing the readers how to implement proven strategies from the top 2% of earners.

Financially Free

Ande Frazier is a financial planner, life-coach, and strategist that has created a unique method for her clients. Although this book was written with women in mind, I found it to be one of the few financial planning books I’ve ever read that discuss personality traits as a base for financial planning.

How Does Financially Free Help Me With Finances?

Often, we get stuck in the quantitative data points in our finances, instead of the qualitative points. For example, instead of thinking about your financial goals with only numbers, it’s better to plan with your life goals as the central focus.

Ande makes the premise of her book more about understanding our personal connection to money, rather than a “how-to guide” on financial literacy. Another brilliant piece of advice I took from Financially Free is how to make sound financial decisions, absent of emotions.

When my wife and I were house-hunting, we lost out on around 20-30 homes because our competitors were paying cash and forgoing house inspections.

Our emotions were so high each time we made an offer and so low each time we lost out on the house. Due to this, we actively discussed spending our life savings and foregoing house inspections so we could have a house to grow our family in.

Ironically, I thought of this book and how to take a step back from emotional spending and the dopamine surge we get with high dollar spending.

Gain Big and Give Back

Gain Big and Give Back is a must read for anyone who has done well for themselves and wants to navigate success. For example, when my brother finally became a medical doctor, he had relatives from all over the country call him for the first time in decades (or ever).

As he earned more money, he knew he had to have genuine conversations with family and set boundaries, but didn’t know how.

Patrick Rush does a great job of walking that line and explaining how to give back in the most meaningful way to you, instead of giving to all the surrounding people.

How Does Gain Big and Give Back Help Me With Finances?

After my short teaching career, I learned a valuable lesson that Patrick emphasizes in this book; use money as a means to an end, not the end all be all. Sometimes, it’s easy to listen to friends, family, and market traders on how to invest — especially if you have a more expendable income.

Patrick recommends sticking to the fundamentals of investing, such as diversification. For example, Patrick only recommends investing only 10% into one company , just in case they fail.

Monkey, Money, Mind

Monkey, Money, Mind is about finding balance in financial planning by understanding how your state of mind and intellect play into your plan. In contrast to financial literacy books that focus on the future, Chris Zadeh and Angelique Schouten focus on the present.

Along with Financially Free , Monkey, Money, Mind does a great job explaining how buying on emotion or external influences can lead to financial ruin.

How Does Monkey Money Mind Help Me With Finances?

Sometimes it can be easy to focus on distant financial goals. While writing your future goals is an important strategy, Chris and Angelique focus on developing skills to spend and save money in the now.

One stat that stood out more than any other is the difference between those of us with financial literacy and those without financial literacy . According to the Dutch Central bank, the disparity between people with and without an understanding of finances is $90,878.  

Wiser Investing

Money, Monkey, Mind and Financially Free really helped me think about how my personality, emotions, and aspirations affect the way I save and spend my money. Wiser Investments is more technical with peer-reviewed and empirical data on how to invest.

For example, my big takeaway from Wiser Investing was the importance of diversification, but also how to diversify. The graph below is from Figure 2.4 in the book and shows how well portfolio risk is correlated with the number of assets.

How Does Wiser Investing Help Me With Finances?

When I first started investing, I thought being diversified meant investing in different markets, such as energy, medical, commercial, and real estate. However, I was completely wrong, and it took Ben Halliburton to show me what diversification means.

In the graph above, Halliburton suggests six assets to invest in as the golden number. However, I think six assets are incredibly tough to track and maintain. I have four assets this book helped me distinguish, including gold, artwork, land bonds, and – of course – the money market.

I recommend this book for anyone wanting to understand how assets work within each market and how to create a unique portfolio that reflects your state of mind and personality.

Final Thoughts

Financial literacy can be the difference between living paycheck to paycheck and living your best life. While five books cannot give you everything you need to know about finance, it’s a great starting point to literacy. I encourage you to supplement your knowledge with the Forbes Books Audio podcast library for more on these and other personal finance topics.

What is Financial Literacy?

Financial Literacy is the ability to understand the basic components of financial management . Knowing how to operate a personal budget will help you manage your money responsibly. Achieving financial literacy will also help you determine how to invest your money.

All of our highlighted authors agree you must learn to invest your money to let it work for you. It’s one thing to work hard and spend a lot of hours to increase your funds. It’s another when you can invest responsibly and earn money while you’re sleeping.

How to gain financial literacy?

After reading these 5 books , I’ve learned that if I can follow some basic steps, I can be successful.

Create a spreadsheet of your income and expenses . Like Annemarie van Gaal states in Money, Monkey, Mind (pg. 31), “ A financially carefree life is only possible when you understand your income and expenses .”

1.Set financial goals and create a plan to achieve them.

2. Identify your purpose for each financial goal. Toby Mathis makes a brilliant point when he writes, “ Choosing a dollar amount—a financial goal—without purpose can lead to a devastating fall ”.

3. Think about why you’re saving money , do you want to buy your dream home on a tropical beach? A mountain home in the Rockies? Or have enough to leave for your future generations? Regardless of your financial purpose, it’s vital to your success to know why you’re trying to achieve financial goals.

4.  Set aside money for emergencies . It’s hard to save money when you’re not making much, but you have to find a way to save for emergencies.

One thing you’ll learn from these authors is that savings for your future and emergencies are different. You should have three months of earnings set aside for any medical, mechanical, or home emergency.

5. Don’t borrow money unless you really need it! If you’re trying to establish your credit line, getting a bank loan for a new car is a fantastic idea. However, if you’re already established, you shouldn’t get a loan unless you can’t afford to pay upfront.

Most importantly, never get a loan that you can’t reasonably afford. If you know it will be too difficult to pay it off on time, then find another way to pay for the item.

6. The golden rule of finance is simple, yet difficult for most of us to achieve; spend less than you earn .

7. Question Each Purchase . Before you buy a new iPhone every year or a new car every few years, think about it first. For example, ask yourself, “do I need this item?” If you don’t need the item, chances are you could go without it.

In Money, Monkey, Mind , Chris Zadeh and Angelique Schouten do a great job of explaining how to avoid buying with your emotions. They’ll teach you how to be a more responsible consumer, while still enjoying your life.

8. Learn about taxes related to your bracket and if there are any breaks or exemptions, you qualify for.

9. Learn about investments , such as stocks, IRAs (Roth IRA), real estate, and Commodities. Infinity Investing is a fantastic guide to understanding which investments are best for your specific situation.

10. Monitor your security . Set alerts on all of your bank accounts for spending and withdrawals.

I recently had someone take $20,000 from my savings account, but luckily, my phone woke me up at 3:00 AM. I then reported it to my bank in time for them to cancel the charges before they went through. Setting alerts on all your accounts will help you keep the money you work so hard to earn.

What are the advantages of financial literacy education?

One of Forbes Books’ primary missions is to help share our authors’ expertise to share with the world. We’d love to help our authors inspire change around the world by providing expert advice on matters of business. Here are a few advantages you’ll gain by reading Infinity Investing , Money , Monkey , Mind , Gain Big and Give Back , and Financially Free .

1. Avoid making irreversible Financial mistakes

Simply knowing the difference between a Roth IRA and Traditional IRA could be the difference between thousands in taxes in retirement. Too many of us have made embarrassing mistakes in our 20s that we’d do anything to have back. The more understanding you have with your money, the higher chance you won’t make these devastating mistakes.

2. Map Out Your Financial Future

By understanding how to create a personal financial plan , you can map out your financial future. By monitoring and tracking your spending, you can determine how much you need to save to reach your financial goals. Learning where, when, and how much to invest versus putting into savings accounts is a fantastic first step to investing.

3. Builds Confidence

How many of you felt confident when you signed the contract for your first home, car, or apartment? Being financially literate will help you stay confident when making major life purchases. Too many people make purchases they can’t afford, based on emotion, desire, pride, and many other factors.

Understanding your budget and staying within it will get you much further in life than buying off of emotion.

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18 Financial Literacy Books You Should Read in 2023

Now is a great time to brush up on your financial literacy with these 18 financial literacy books.

Whether you want to learn more about investing, savings plans , or just want to improve your financial security overall , these 18 popular financial literacy books will help you reach your financial goals , or at the very least, improve your understanding of topics that are not always taught in school or at home.

This list of popular financial literacy books comprises chart-topping hits, best sellers, and books by some of our favorite finance gurus. 

1.   The One-Page Financial Plan by Carl Richards

In this book, Richards explains that bad calls about money aren’t failures. Instead, they’re just what happens when emotional creatures have to make decisions about the future with limited information.

He goes on to explain that he feels it’s important to scrap striving for perfection. Instead, it advises committing to a process of guessing and making adjustments when things go off track.

Those who want to gain clarity about the big picture of finance in order to cope with the unexpected. 

2.   The Little Book That (Still) Beats The Market by Joel Greenblatt

In this expanded-upon version of the original book, Greenblatt explained how investors can outperform the popular market averages by simply and systematically applying a formula that seeks out good businesses when they are available at bargain prices.

Anyone who wants an anecdote-rich, easy-to-understand investing strategy.

3.   Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki

Now 25 years old, this book has been updated to ensure that the information aligns with today’s society. Rich Dad Poor Dad is Kiyosaki’s story of growing up with two dads — his real father and the father of his best friend, his rich dad.

It details the ways in which both men shaped his thoughts about money and investing.

Those who want to make their current money and financial standing work for them.

4.   The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason

The Richest Millennial in Babylon was written by a young professional, and provides 10 tiny habits to help readers get out of debt, build savings, and retire with financial freedom.

Anyone who wants a quick read that integrates short stories, step-by-step guides, and illustrations that keep the content engaging.

5.   Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together by Erin Lowry

With a refreshingly casual attitude, this is a great financial literacy book to pick up if finances scare you. With information like understanding your relationship with money and managing student loans without having a full-on panic attack, this provides a wealth of insight in an actionable and easily digestible way.

Millennials who want simple advice packed with funny stories that hit the nail on the head by sharing real world experiences we’ve all found ourselves in along with useful information on how to move forward from these situations.

6.   Clever Girl Finance by Bola Sokunbi

Check out this financial literacy book for guidance on ditching debt, saving money, and building real wealth.

Sokunbi, the force behind the hugely popular Clever Girl Finance website, draws on her personal money mistakes and financial redemption to educate and empower a new generation of women on their journey to financial freedom.

Women looking to learn real-world stories and advice from other “clever girls”.

7.   Get Good with Money: Ten Simple Steps to Becoming Financially Whole by Tiffany Aliche

Written by Tiffany Aliche who was a successful preschool teacher with a healthy nest egg when a recession. What’s more? Bad advice from a shady advisor put her out of a job and into a huge financial hole.

So she began to chart the path to her own financial rescue. The outline of her ten-step formula for attaining both financial security and peace of mind began to take shape. That was the framework for this financial literacy book,

Anyone who wants to cultivate good financial habits .

8.   The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham

This book focuses on the concept of value investing. Value investing is a long-term investment strategy that involves buying stocks that are undervalued by the market and holding onto them until they reach their full potential.

Anyone looking to learn more about this approach to investing (value investing).

9.   Stop Acting Rich and Start Living Like a Millionaire by Thomas J. Stanley

This book explains the author’s thoughts about how the less affluent have fallen into the elite luxury brand trap that keeps them from acquiring wealth and details how to get out of it by emulating the working rich as opposed to the super elite.

Those looking for a defensive strategy for tough times.

10. I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi

Personal finance expert Ramit Sethi has been called a “wealth wizard” by Forbes and the “new guru on the block” by Fortune. Now he’s updated and expanded his modern money classic for a new age, delivering a simple, powerful, no-BS 6-week program that just works.

Those looking for a six-week program to help you set up finances will adore this financial fix

11. The Basics of Bitcoins and Blockchains: An Introduction to Cryptocurrencies and the Technology that Powers Them by Antony Lewis

In addition to the money advice we’ve all grown up hearing, there’s a world of cryptocurrency to learn about!

This book provides a clear guide to this new currency and the revolutionary technology that powers it.

Those looking to get a better understanding of cryptocurrency and how it all works will love this introductory book.

12. The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness by Morgan Housel

The concept of this book is amazing because it talks about the reality of making financial decisions. It explores how people often make these decisions at the dinner table, or in a meeting room.

These are places where personal history, your own unique view of the world, ego, pride, marketing, and odd incentives are scrambled together.

Money is typically taught as a math-based field, where data and formulas tell us exactly what to do. The only problem? Most people don’t use that structure to make financial decisions.

Anyone looking to learn more about human behavior surrounding money and how it affects financial choices.

13. Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez

This book has been around for over 15 years. It has been recognized as one of the top financial literacy books around.

This updated edition claims to ensure that its time-tested wisdom applies to people of all ages.

It covers modern topics like investing in index funds, managing revenue streams like side hustles and freelancing, and tracking your finances online. It even tackles the task of having difficult conversations about money.

Those looking for a step-by-step program to learn to live more deliberately and meaningfully will love this book.

14. Student Loan Solution: 5 Steps to Take Control of your Student Loans and Financial Life by David Carlson

According to US census data, over 17% of Americans (45 million) have student loan debt . Needless to say, this book is very relevant. It explains what student loan borrowers should be focusing on. He provides a 5-step approach to help you understand your loans, your options, and how to improve your greater financial life. The best part? You can do this all while paying down your student loan debt.

Anyone looking for tools to start your student loan repayments with a bang.

15. The Financial Diet: A Total Beginner’s Guide to Getting Good with Money by Chelsea Fagan

The Financial Diet is the self-proclaimed personal finance book for people who don’t care about personal finance. Are you in need of an overspending detox? Are you buried under student debt? Are you just trying to figure out how to live on an entry-level salary? Whatever you need, The Financial Diet gives you tools to make a budget, understand investments, and deal with your credit.

Those looking for a personal finance guide written in an approachable and helpful tone.

16. Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties by Beth Kobliner

This New York Times bestseller guides millennials and Gen Z through the world of personal finance. It was so popular that it’s been completely revised and updated in the fourth edition of this book!

Those just starting out who are looking to learn how to decrease their debt, avoid common money mistakes, and navigate the world of personal finance in today’s ever-changing landscape.

17. Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School?: 99 Personal Money Management Principles to Live By by Cary Siegel

Is there anything that you resonate with more than the concept of “why didn’t they teach me this in school?”

This book hits on all the concepts we missed through the gaping holes in our education system.

It was initially developed by the author to pass on to his five children as they entered adulthood. Summed up as quick and easily digestible, this book is beneficial for anyone at any age.

This book is great for those interested in an easily digestible read that focuses more on the qualitative side than the quantitative side of personal money management.

18. Financial Feminist: Overcome the Patriarchy’s Bullsh*t to Master Your Money and Build a Life You Love by Tori Dunlap

You might recognize Tori Dunlap as the social media star behind Her First $100K . This book covers everything from managing debt to investing and voting with your dollars.

It’s a great read for those who want a financial book with a feminist focus.

This book is great for women looking for a shame- and judgment-free approach to paying off debt . It helps readers learn how to spend mindfully. It also discusses how to save money without monk-like deprivation, and investing to spend your retirementTulum.

If you’re looking at this list of financial literacy books and feel like you still need some additional support, check out our list of 26 personal finance apps to help you make managing your finances more enjoyable !

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The 10 Best Personal Finance Books

Get your money on track with our picks

Personal finance books help you manage your money better. At the most basic level, you can learn personal finance basics—like why paying yourself first pays off or how to manage and pay off debt—so you'll become smarter and more confident with handling your money. But it doesn't stop there. They can also teach you how to invest, manage a mortgage, create a nest egg, save for retirement, and ultimately help you overcome common money pitfalls. Sure, it’s not light reading, but your wallet—and your investment portfolio —will thank you.

Here are our picks of the best personal finance books to help foster a healthy relationship with your money.

Key Takeaways

• Our choice for best overall personal finance book is “Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School?” by Carey Siegel.
• “The Total Money Makeover” by Dave Ramsey gets our nod as the best choice for debt management.
• The best memoir on our list is “Rich Dad Poor Dad" by Robert Kiyosaki.
• Our top choice for millennials is “Broke Millennial” by Erin Lowry.

Best Overall: Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School?

Courtesy of Amazon

Ask anyone what they wish they’d learned more about in school, and the answer is likely money. More specifically, how to properly handle one’s finances—enter Cary Siegel’s title, “Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School?” Siegel, a retired business executive, divides the book into 99 principles and eight money lessons that you should have learned by high school or college but didn’t. This book was initially intended for his five children when he realized they didn’t learn important personal finance principles before entering the real world, but it grew into a well-reviewed read full of money lessons, as well as firsthand experience and advice from Siegel. This easy-to-read book is ideal for new grads or anyone looking to start their personal finance journey on the right foot.

Best Memoir: Rich Dad Poor Dad

You’ve probably heard of Robert Kiyosaki’s “Rich Dad Poor Dad," but there’s a reason it’s stuck around for more than two decades. In one of the most popular personal finance books of all time, Kiyosaki shares what he learned growing up from his father and his friend’s father, the latter of which is the “rich dad” in the title. Those lessons include how you don’t need to make a lot of money to get rich and how to think about assets and liabilities . He also explains to parents why schools won’t teach their kids what they need to know about personal finance. This 20th-anniversary edition includes an update from the author on all things money, the economy, and investing.

Best for Debt Management: The Total Money Makeover

Debt management plays a major role in the state of your personal finances. Need a little help in that area? Take a look at Dave Ramsey’s “The Total Money Makeover.” This New York Times bestseller explains, without mincing words, how to get out of debt and improve your financial picture by avoiding common pitfalls like rent-to-own, cash advances, or using credit. It also offers solid advice on starting an emergency fund, saving for college and retirement, and how to succeed at Ramsey’s famed “Snowball Method” for debt payoff.

Best for Building Wealth: The Automatic Millionaire

Who doesn’t want to be a millionaire? David Bach’s “The Automatic Millionaire,” a New York Times, USA Today, Bloomberg Businessweek, and Wall Street Journal business bestseller, shows you how to do just that. The book kicks off with the story of a couple earning about $55,000 combined annually, and how they achieved their financial dreams. Think: owning two homes, putting their children through college, and retiring at 55 with a $1 million retirement nest egg. The secret? Setting up a financial system that not only pays yourself first but one that is automatic. Bach has also written "Smart Women Finish Rich," "Smart Couples Finish Rich," and "Start Late, Finish Rich."

Related: The Best Investing Books

Best for Beginners: Broke Millennial

If you can decipher #GYFLT, then this is the personal finance book for you. (Hint: #GYFLT stands for “get your financial life together” in social media speak.) Erin Lowry’s “Broke Millennial” explains in her signature conversational style how 20- and 30-somethings can get in control of their personal finances. From understanding your relationship with money to managing student loans to sharing the details of your finances with a partner, this book covers the biggest money challenges facing millennials today. 

Related: The Best Investing Books for Beginners

Runner-Up, Best for Beginners: The One-Page Financial Plan

Courtesy of Walmart

Confused when it comes to your money, whether it’s how to properly invest or how to deal with unexpected financial challenges? Carl Richards’ “The One-Page Financial Plan” takes the mystery out of how to effectively manage your finances. This book helps you not only figure out what your financial goals are, but also how to get there in a simple, one-page plan. Richards is a Certified Financial Planner and a columnist for The New York Times. 

Best for Spenders: I Will Teach You to Be Rich

Being rich isn’t about not spending money at all. In "I Will Teach You to Be Rich," a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller, financial expert Ramit Sethi explains that you can spend your money guilt-free as long as you have it invested and allocated properly. This title talks about how to deal with all the common money pitfalls, from paying off student loans to how to save every month, and even how to talk your way out of late fees. This 10th-anniversary edition includes updated views on technology, money, and psychology, as well as some success stories of readers who have actually gotten rich from reading—you guessed it—Sethi’s book.

Best for Women: Clever Girl Finance

Women still earn just 83 cents to a man’s dollar, and average earnings are even lower for women who are older or belong to certain race and ethnicity groups, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. In short, women still have to work harder when it comes to their money. Bola Sokunbi’s “Clever Girl Finance” aims to empower and educate a whole new generation of women, sounding off on things like how to keep an eye on expenses, create and stick to a budget, manage your credit, build a nest egg, and take responsibility for your own financial well-being. Sokunbi is a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI) and the founder and CEO of the website Clever Girl Finance.

Best Psychology: The Psychology of Money

This read is an interesting delve into the psychology of money and how your ego, preconceived notions, and even your pride can affect your decisions around money. As expected, this isn’t exactly the best way to manage your investment portfolio, and Morgan Housel’s “The Psychology of Money'' gives readers tips and tools for combating these biases in the form of 19 short stories that focus on the same topic. Housel is a partner at The Collaborative Fund and has worked as a columnist at The Wall Street Journal.

Related: The Best Economics Books

Best for Budgeting: Your Money or Your Life

With more than a million copies sold, Vicki Robin’s “Your Money or Your Life” lays out an easy-to-follow, nine-step plan to help readers change their relationship with money. Whether it’s how to get out of debt, get started investing , build wealth, or even save money by practicing Robin’s signature mindfulness technique, this read has you covered.

Final Verdict

Whether you're new to finances or just looking for more financial advice, the top overall personal finance book is "Why Didn't They Teach Me This In School?" by Cary Siegel ( view at Amazon ). It teaches eight important money lessons you should've learned by high school as well as a whopping 99 principles that will help you save, invest, and build your wealth.

Different methods might be best for different people. For example, many computer programs can help track income and expenses, and they even can be connected to your financial accounts to automatically import data. Others might want to handle the process manually. Regardless, the important thing to do is to set a budget so you can know exactly where you stand with your finances.

Be as detailed as possible when managing your personal finances . Sticking to a budget, paying down debt, and knowing exactly where every dollar is going can help make it possible to increase your savings. Having the details to find that extra $10 or $20 per week or month that you can save or invest today can add up to thousands of dollars years from now.

Budgeting is a big part of financial planning . To be successful, it is important to account for everything necessary to financial health. In addition to simply knowing your income and expenses, you have to think about where you will be in the future with income and expenses. Insurance, a good investment plan, and more can help you with expected and unexpected expenses that may arise.

Meet the Expert

Rachel Morgan Cautero has a master's degree in journalism from New York University and more than a decade of journalism experience, most in the personal finance sector. Most recently, she was the managing editor of DailyWorth, a finance-based media destination for women. She’s been published in SmartAsset, The Balance, The Atlantic, Life & Money, Parents, WealthRocket, and Yahoo Finance.

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• The 14 Best Finance Books of All Time

In 2022, a study found that 56% of Americans have less than $1,000 in savings in the bank. It gets worse: Over half of those people don’t have enough money to cover a $1,000 expense at all. They’d have to borrow the money. That’s bad.

It’s not bad because “you should save money,” but because having no emergency fund puts you in a vulnerable position. What if someone crashes into your car? What if you break a few bones? Things outside of our control can force us to pay up. You don’t want to come up short when that happens.

That’s just the most pressing example of why you should learn to manage your finances. There are others: Retiring in peace without stressing about money, having enough to invest in a new venture, giving freely to friends, family, and charity — money does make our lives easier up to a certain degree.

Thankfully, there are a lot of good books to help us become financially smart. At Four Minute Books, we’ve reviewed and summarized over 1,000 books to date , and we think the best finance books come down to three things:

• Practical advice. Money is a tangible thing, so whatever tips authors give should be easy to implement for you right away.
• Relevant information. Depending on your situation and goals, you might need a beginner’s book or a more advanced one.
• Inspiring stories. If a book is boring, it won’t motivate you to take action. The easiest way to change is to listen to a good story.

Based on these three criteria, we’ve selected the 14 best finance books for you to read. If you want to become savvy with your finances, be smarter in how you spend and save, and learn to invest your money to build freedom, consider these books.

Our list includes our favorite quote, a short summary, three key lessons, and few arguments for why you may want to read each book in question. Each of them is available on Four Minute Books, so you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

To make navigating this page easier for you, we broke the list down into different categories and created a table of contents. You can also jump back up here with the little arrow in the bottom right corner of the page.

Whether you’ve been unlucky, have bad financial habits, or just aren’t good at math, these books may finally change your financial life for the better. Here are the best finance books!

Table of Contents

1. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki

2. money: master the game by tony robbins, 3. the barefoot investor by scott pape, 4. the one-page financial plan by carl richards, 5. the intelligent investor by benjamin graham, 6. the little book that beats the market by joel greenblatt, 7. the millionaire fastlane by mj demarco, 8. think and grow rich by napoleon hill, 9. i will teach you to be rich by ramit sethi, 10. the total money makeover by dave ramsey, 11. the automatic millionaire by david bach, 12. the millionaire next door by thomas j. stanley, 13. secrets of the millionaire mind by t. harv eker, 14. the richest man in babylon by george clason, bonus: the 4 minute millionaire by niklas göke, other book lists by topic, other book lists by author, best finance books overall, favorite quote.

“The main reason that over 90 percent of the American public struggles financially is because they play not to lose.  They don’t play to win.”  — Robert T. Kiyosaki

The Book in One Sentence

Rich Dad Poor Dad tells the story of a boy with two fathers, one rich, one poor, to help you develop the mindset and financial knowledge you need to build a life of wealth and freedom.

Why should you read it?

This book is controversial, but in getting you to actually do something , it just works. It’s based partially on Kiyosaki’s life, who learned two different ways of handling money from his dad and that of his best friend. The lessons are a mix of how to approach money as a concept, basic knowledge of accounting, budgeting, and investing, and how to manage your money so it works for you. By the time you’re done with the story, you’ll enjoy implementing the tips.

Key Takeaways

• Use your money to acquire assets, not liabilities.
• Manage risks instead of avoiding them.
• Work to learn, not to earn.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

“You either master money, or, on some level, money masters you!” — Tony Robbins

Money: Master The Game lays out seven simple steps to financial freedom, based on the advice of the world’s best billionaire investors, interviewed by Tony Robbins.

Tony Robbins dedicated ten years of research to this book. After the financial crisis of 2008 , he decided to help average people secure a good future. After interviewing several billionaire financial legends, such as Ray Dalio , Warren Buffett , Jack Bogle , he put together their best strategies. The book contains everything from mindset changes to saving tips to asset allocation. The transcripts of the interviews are worth the price of the book alone.

• Never underestimate the exponential power of compounding interest.
• Pick one of three financial goals to show yourself that financial freedom is within reach: basic expenses, basic + fun, or financial independence.
• Diversify your investments by using a 3-bucket system: A security bucket, a growth bucket, and a dream bucket.

Best Finance Books For Beginners

“You can continue living in the past, beating yourself up about the money mistakes you made when you were younger, telling yourself you’ve left it too late…or you can rise up and make yourself proud.” — Scott Pape

The Barefoot Investor is an Australian farm boy’s no-BS guide to taking charge of your personal finances with a simple system to eliminate debt, live in the now, and still retire in peace.

Scott Pape is Australia’s most trusted personal finance expert. His book has sold over 1,000,000 copies. Despite growing up on a farm, Pape wanted to get rich by trading stocks. That didn’t work out. He went back to his farm and now uses the simple life as a metaphor for managing your money. The book helps you take control in three phases: plant, grow, then harvest your money. He balances easy tips with radical advice. A great book for beginners.

• Simplify your money management by using different bank accounts.
• Shred your credit cards first, then start paying off your debt.
• Automate some of your retirement planning with index funds.

“People who understand interest earn it. People who don’t pay it.” — Carl Richards

The One-Page Financial Plan makes financial planning stop feeling like a burden for the less disciplined by helping you plan your entire financial future on a single page.

Carl Richards has spent more than 40,000 hours over the last 20 years as a financial advisor, working at Wells Fargo, Merrill Lynch and others. Some of his sketches he shares on Instagram went viral. They illustrate the ideas that helped him and his wife plan their finances on just one piece of paper. His book shows you how to do the same.

• Set some goals but stay flexible and fine-tune along the way.
• Turn budgeting into a game to make saving fun.
• View paying off debt as an investment in your future.

Best Finance Books For Investors

“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” — Benjamin Graham

The Intelligent Investor explains value investing, which is focused on generating steady, long-term profits by ignoring the current market and picking companies with high intrinsic value.

Warren Buffett says this is the single greatest book on investing ever written. It’s based on Benjamin Graham’s classes, which Warren Buffett took as a young student. Value investors find companies with great fundamentals and buy their shares at a discounted price. After that, all they have to do is wait. Eventually, their real value will unlock. A true, timeless classic.

• There are 3 principles to intelligent investing: analyze for the long term, protect yourself from losses, and don’t go for crazy profits.
• Never trust Mr. Market, he can be very irrational in the short and medium term.
• Stick to a strict formula by which you make all your investments, and you’ll do fine.

“Choosing individual stocks without any idea of what you’re looking for is like running through a dynamite factory with a burning match. You may live, but you’re still an idiot.” — Joel Greenblatt

The Little Book That (Still) Beats The Market is a step-by-step tutorial to implement a simple, mathematical formula when buying stocks which guarantees long-term profits.

Joel Greenblatt is an investing legend. His investment company Gotham Funds had an annual return of over 40% for 20 years, from 1986 to 2006. With his simple formula, Joel has managed to turn Benjamin Graham’s value investing approach into a system that only needs to be updated once a year. In 2005, he wrote it down to pass it on to his children. If you’re looking for a specific, low-hassle investment approach, this is your best bet.

• Look at earnings yield and return on capital to evaluate stocks.
• Rank and combine these two factors to find winning companies.
• Be patient, it’s what makes this formula unpopular, but effective.

Best Finance Books For Entrepreneurs

“Many people want to change their life, but they are not willing to change their choices, and ultimately this changes nothing.” — MJ DeMarco

The Millionaire Fastlane points out what’s wrong with the old “get a degree, get a job, work hard, retire rich” model, defines wealth in a new way, and shows you the path to retiring young.

This book must have the world’s most misleading title. It’s not a get-rich-quick-scheme at all. Instead, it’s a story of persistence, boldness, risk-taking, and unconventional thinking. After seeing a man in a Lamborghini when he was a teenager, MJ DeMarco knew he wanted to be rich, but he didn’t want to slave away for 40 years to get there. After launching, selling, and re-buying his own company, he retired at age 33 as a multi-millionaire. An inspiring read!

• Wealth stands for 3 things — and money isn’t one of them: health, relationships, and freedom are what truly matters.
• At some point, you must make your income independent of your time.
• Think like a producer, not like a consumer.

“The starting point of all achievement is desire. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results, just as a small fire makes a small amount of heat.” — Napoleon Hill

Think and Grow Rich is a curation of the 13 most common habits of wealthy and successful people, distilled from studying over 500 individuals over the course of 20 years.

This might be the most popular book about success in the world. After steel magnate Andrew Carnegie himself put him on to the task, Napoleon Hill interviewed successful individuals for 20 years. The result, was published in 1937 and has sold 70 million copies. It’s a book about thinking, vision, and doing what it takes to succeed. If you’re a young entrepreneur, this is for you.

• Use autosuggestion to build an unshakeable belief in yourself.
• Be stubborn and always stick to your decisions.
• Join a Mastermind group to cut your learning curve.

Best Finance Books For Saving Money

“Getting started is more important than becoming an expert.”  — Ramit Sethi

I Will Teach You To Be Rich helps you save money on autopilot while allowing yourself to spend guilt-free on the things you enjoy.

Ramit Sethi’s blog started in his dorm room in 2004. After selling an ebook for a few dollars and seeing the magic of earning online, he doubled down. 15 years later, GrowthLab makes millions in annual revenue with online courses. His New York Times bestseller will help you cut costs in every area of life, splurge on the things you enjoy, and automate your retirement planning. A down-to-earth perspective from someone who’s done it.

• You’re the only one responsible for your financial problems.
• Know how much money you have coming in and then automatically direct it where you want it to end up.
• Start investing today, even if it’s just $1.

“We buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like.” — Dave Ramsey

The Total Money Makeover shows you how to stop accepting debt as normal, eliminate it forever in small increments, and build the financial future you deserve in seven steps.

The Dave Ramsey Show is one of USA’s most popular radio shows ever. Ramsey helps people become debt-free, at which point they go on his show to talk about the experience. He also helps them with the emotional issues of tackling money and goes beyond mere mathematical tips. Ramsey encourages you to tackle your debts from small to large, then slowly start saving, and only invest after you’ve covered the basics. A rock-solid approach to finance.

• Before you do anything else, put away $1,000 in an emergency fund.
• Start paying down your debts, beginning with the smallest.
• Grow your emergency fund until you have at least a three-month buffer.

Best Finance Books For Retirement

“The fact is, none of us really has a choice: We are all playing the money game whether we want to or not. The only question is: Are we winning?” — David Bach

The Automatic Millionaire is an actionable, step-by-step plan for building wealth without being disciplined by relying on fixed percentages, small payments, and automated transactions.

When he was seven years old, his grandma took David Bach to McDonald’s. Over lunch, she told him there are three types of people in the world: those who eat at McDonald’s, those who work at McDonald’s, and those who invest in McDonald’s. Wow! Later, Bach became a vice president at Morgan Stanley. Today, he runs a consultancy and publishes books. 7 of 12 are New York Times bestsellers, and this one is his most practical template for building wealth.

• Saving a little every day will go a long way.
• Pay yourself first to take care of your financial future.
• Automatic payments allow you to invest in a disciplined manner without being disciplined yourself.

“Whatever your income, always live below your means.” — Thomas J. Stanley

The Millionaire Next Door shows you the simple spending and saving habits that lead to more cash in the bank than most people earn in their life while helping you avoid critical mistakes on your way to financial independence.

Stanley and his co-author William Danko studied people with normal incomes and high net worths for decades. The book helps you avoid becoming a UAW — an under-accumulator of wealth. Most people could save half their income. This book shows you why that’s worth the effort in the long run.

• Save responsibly from the moment you first start earning more than you need to live.
• Use a simple net worth formula to calculate if you’re falling short of your financial potential.
• Avoid economic outpatient care — spending too much money supporting others — to reach your goal.

Best Finance Books For Financial Freedom

“If you want to change the fruits, you will first have to change the roots. If you want to change the visible, you must first change the invisible.” — T. Harv Eker

Secrets Of The Millionaire Mind suggests our financial success is not determined from birth and shows us what to do to break through mental barriers and acquire the habits and thinking of the rich.

After an absolute rollercoaster of building, selling, losing, and failing at over a dozen businesses, T. Harv Eker analyzed his own relationship with money. He found he’d just emulated his parents’ financial strategies, and so do most of us. This book will help you undo the damaging aspects of that wiring and replace it with solid financial thinking and habits.

• You naturally tend to replicate your parents’ income strategies.
• If you want to control your finances, you first have to realize you’re the one at the wheel.
• Don’t despise rich people or you’ll never become rich yourself.

“Advice is one thing that is freely given away, but watch that you only take what is worth having.” — George S. Clason

The Richest Man In Babylon gives common-sense financial advice which you can apply today, told through tales and parables from the times of ancient Babylon.

George S. Clason, a soldier, businessman, and writer, was smart when he published this book in 1926. Instead of giving boring advice without any credibility, he wrapped his lessons into stories from the Babylonians. Generally believed to be an astonishing people, they lent George the power to transfer these lessons to us. The advice is as sound today as it was back then.

• Live below your means.
• Learn how to be lucky.
• Never take on debt.

“At the end of the day, all change is in your hands. Whether you want to be rich, get fit, or find love, no one can do the work but you. What you can and should do to succeed, however, is take all the help you can get.” — Niklas Göke

The 4 Minute Millionaire  is a collection of 44 short lessons sourced from the best finance books, each paired with an action item to help you get closer to financial freedom in just 4 minutes a day.

If you feel overwhelmed with managing your money or that you are too busy to invest, this book is for you. It’ll help you to finally start looking after your finances, and it’ll do so in a way that’s manageable in just 4 minutes a day. Everyone has 4 minutes a day, including you. The daily action items will make sure you implement what you learn, and if you’re already further along in your financial independence–journey, you can simply start with the later sections for some advanced investing techniques and ideas.

• Take pride in starting, even if you can only start small.
• Instead of avoiding risk and thus also avoiding wealth, you should manage it.
• There are 7 new asset classes that make it easy to get excited about investing.

We’ve summarized over 1,000 books to date, many of them about money. In our opinion, these are the best finance books of all time to start mastering money in your life.

Whether you’re recovering from an unlucky turn of events, suffering from bad financial habits picked up in childhood, or just not good at math, after diving into these books, you’ll soon create more financial breathing room in your life.

Improve your financial knowledge, reduce your spending, start saving and investing, and you’ll be well on your way to financial independence.

When it comes to taking control of your finances, the most important part is to start today.

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin

Looking for more of the best books on various topics? Here are all the book lists we’ve made for you so far:

• The 60 Best Business Books of All Time (Will Forever Change How You Think About Organizations)
• The 20 Best Entrepreneurship Books to Start, Grow & Run a Successful Business
• The 21 Best Habit Books of All Time to Change Any Behavior
• The 33 Best Happiness Books of All Time That Everyone Should Read
• The 60 Best History Books of All Time (to Read at Any Age)
• The 7 Best Inspirational Books That Will Light Your Inner Fire
• The 40 Best Leadership Books of All Time to Help You Become a Truly Inspiring Person
• The 31 Best Motivational Books Ever Written
• The 12 Best Nonfiction Books Most People Have Never Heard Of
• The 35 Best Philosophy Books to Live Better and Become a Great Thinker
• The 34 Best Psychology Books That Will Make You Smarter and Happier
• The 25 Best Sales Books of All Time to Help You Close Any Deal
• The 33 Best Self-Help Books of All Time to Read at Any Age
• The 22 Best Books About Sex & Sexuality to Improve Your Love Life & Relationships
• The 30 Most Life-Changing Books That Will Shift Your Perspective & Stay With You Forever

Looking for more books by the world’s most celebrated authors? Here are all of the book lists by the author we’ve curated for you:

• All Brené Brown Books, Sorted Chronologically (and by Popularity)
• Jordan Peterson Books: All Titles in Order of Publication + The 5 Top Books He Recommends
• All Malcolm Gladwell Books, Sorted Chronologically (and by Popularity)
• All Michael Pollan Books, Sorted Chronologically (and by Popularity)
• Peter Thiel Books: A Comprehensive List of Books By, About & Recommended by Peter Thiel
• All Rachel Hollis Books: The Full List of Non-Fiction, Fiction & Cookbooks, Sorted by Popularity & the Best Reading Order
• All Ray Dalio Books, Sorted Chronologically (and by Popularity)
• All Robert Greene Books, Sorted Chronologically (and by Popularity)
• All Ryan Holiday Books, Sorted Chronologically (and by Popularity)
• All Simon Sinek Books, Sorted Chronologically (and by Popularity)
• All Tim Ferriss Books, Sorted Chronologically (and by Popularity)
• All Walter Isaacson Books, Sorted Chronologically (and by Popularity)

Last Updated on June 30, 2023

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August 28, 2023

10 of the Best Financial Literacy Books You Won’t Want to Miss

Navigating the world of finance and investment is hard. Thankfully, there’s a treasure trove of resources out there to guide us, and some of the best tools are books. The best books on financial literacy are filled with more than complex jargon and hard-to-follow advice. 

Think about it: the choices we make with our money today can shape our futures for years to come. But how do we ensure we’re making the right decisions? How do we save money effectively and plan our investments wisely? 

That’s where practical advice from financial experts comes in. Through their insights, we can learn to navigate the choppy waters of personal finance with confidence.

To achieve financial freedom and security, it’s essential to be financially literate. It’s not just about knowing the difference between stocks and bonds or understanding how a mortgage works. It’s about cultivating a mindset that prioritizes smart financial choices in all areas of life. This means understanding how to budget, avoid debt, invest wisely, and set yourself up for a comfortable future.

We’ve compiled a list of some of the most influential texts on financial literacy. These books are packed with strategies, tips, and wisdom that can help anyone become more informed and empowered with their money. 

Let’s dive in.

This absolute classic of personal finance literature has been in publication nearly 100 years — and for good reason. Set against the backdrop of ancient Babylon, this captivating book weaves tales of ordinary people and their financial decisions. These stories offer timeless wisdom on wealth-building and financial discipline. 

The core of the narrative revolves around Arkad, the titular “richest man.” He shares the simple financial principles he follows to amass his wealth. The book teaches essential lessons such as living below one’s means, investing wisely, and seeking knowledgeable counsel.

This illustrative narrative stands as a cornerstone in personal financial literature. It presents a tale of two contrasting fathers—Poor Dad (Kiyosaki’s) and Rich Dad (his friend’s). The book delves into the differences in their beliefs and approaches toward money, work, and life. 

Poor Dad emphasizes traditional education and a stable job. Rich Dad, on the other hand, champions the importance of financial education, investments, and entrepreneurial ventures. 

Kiyosaki outlines how these varied perspectives influenced his understanding of assets and liabilities, ultimately shaping his net worth. Instead of relying on a fixed income, he underscores the significance of creating and acquiring assets that generate income. 

Moreover, the book sheds light on the intricacies of stock markets, real estate, and other investment avenues. It urges readers to think beyond the conventional rat race. 

Rich Dad Poor Dad ultimately emphasizes that a high income doesn’t necessarily equate to wealth. It’s what you do with that income that counts.

In Dave Ramsey’s The Total Money Makeover, readers are given a step-by-step plan to rectify their financial woes. It’s a comprehensive blueprint for transforming one’s monetary situation. 

It starts with the basics: creating an emergency fund and paying off debt. It then delves into more advanced topics, ensuring readers are well-equipped to build wealth and secure a stable future. The practical tools and actionable advice discussed are punctuated by success stories of individuals who have turned their financial lives around. 

The Total Money Makeover isn’t about quick fixes. It’s a journey to lasting financial health and independence.

In this text, Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez offer a refreshing perspective on personal finance. Money, they say, isn’t just a tool for acquiring things. It’s the product of the life-energy you spend to earn it. 

This view encourages people to evaluate whether their job and the things they spend on truly add value to their lives. Robin and Dominguez lay out a comprehensive financial plan that goes beyond mere budgeting. Their nine-step program emphasizes frugality, reducing debt, and redefining what “enough” truly means in a consumption-driven world. 

The ultimate goal? Achieving financial independence and reclaiming one’s life from the clutches of mindless earning and spending. 

Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko shatter many popular myths surrounding millionaires in The Millionaire Next Door . As it turns out, the majority of wealthy individuals in the U.S. don’t live in upscale neighborhoods or drive flashy cars. 

Instead, they live modestly, often below their means, and prioritize saving over conspicuous consumption. The lesson is simple: true wealth isn’t about earning high incomes. It’s about making wise financial decisions and being frugal. 

Stanley and Danko discover rich people often share traits and behaviors. They live well below their means, allocate time and money efficiently, and value financial independence over social status. 

The authors argue that many people who appear rich might not actually have sustainable wealth. On the other hand, those living unassumingly might have substantial net worth. 

J.L. Collins presents a refreshing perspective on wealth accumulation in The Simple Path to Wealth . 

He advocates for the virtues of low-cost index funds because they outperform most actively managed funds in the long run. By keeping investment strategies simple and avoiding the pitfalls of complex financial products, one can steadily grow their wealth. 

The book also delves into the intricacies of taxes, debt, and retirement, offering readers a comprehensive yet easily digestible financial plan. 

John C. Bogle, the founder of Vanguard Group, has a simple message in The Little Book of Common Sense Investing. The simplest investment approach often yields the best results.

Low-cost index funds, he says, are more profitable than trying to beat the market or hiring a fund manager. They’re also less risky. 

Bogle proves his point by showcasing the compounding effects of active trading costs over time. He also critiques the mutual fund industry for its frequent disregard for the best interests of the individual investor. 

He ultimately encourages readers to adopt a long-term perspective and to prioritize simplicity and frugality in their investment decisions. 

Erin Lowry’s Broke Millennial is a practical roadmap for young adults eager to conquer their finances. Lowry delves into the financial challenges that many millennials face. She offers actionable advice tailored to a generation often criticized for its spending habits. 

Lowry also understands there’s no one-size-fits-all solution in personal finance. She emphasizes personal financial journeys, highlighting the importance of understanding one’s unique relationship with money.

She also breaks down complex financial topics into digestible tidbits. She covers everything millennials will find practical. From paying off student loans, to budgeting; navigating tricky financial conversations with friends to managing the intricacies of the gig economy.

Ramit Sethi’s I Will Teach You to Be Rich is a candid guide that dismisses the traditional notions of personal finance. It embraces a modern, more holistic approach to wealth. Unlike many financial guides that tout pinching pennies and forgoing lattes, Sethi emphasizes smart spending, automating finances, and investing in oneself.

Over the course of a 6-week program, Sethi takes readers through a transformative journey. It begins with credit cards, tackles student loans, and finally delves into investments and saving for big goals. 

Sethi’s ultimate point is one can lead a rich life today while also preparing for a financially secure future.

The book challenges readers to confront their financial behaviors and beliefs. Sethi’s approach to personal finance is both actionable and motivational. While it is tailored primarily for young adults, the strategies and principles discussed are universally applicable.

One of the standout features of I Will Teach You to Be Rich is its directness. Sethi doesn’t shy away from addressing the common excuses people make to avoid making key financial decisions. 

By the end, readers are equipped with more than knowledge. They have a plan to create their version of a rich life.

Benjamin Graham’s seminal work has earned its reputation as one of the foundational texts in the world of value investing. Since its original publication in 1949, the book has guided countless investors in the principles of value investing. This method focuses on buying stocks at less than their intrinsic value.

Graham explains that an investment should be approached with the same thoroughness as a business endeavor. He introduces the idea of “Mr. Market,” a fictional character representing the stock market’s manic-depressive nature. Investors, Graham suggests, should capitalize on Mr. Market’s mood swings rather than be ruled by them.

Much of the book is dedicated to teaching readers how to analyze stocks and bonds from a long-term perspective. Doing so requires thinking of stock as a stake in the company, rather than just a ticker symbol. 

This text requires a commitment to fully digest. However, the lessons within offer a roadmap for anyone looking to navigate the waters of investing with a calm and informed approach.

Embarking on a journey into the world of financial literacy can be both enlightening and empowering. These ten essential texts offer insights, strategies, and advice tailored to various stages and aspects of one’s financial journey. They provide not just theoretical knowledge, but practical tools to navigate the complex terrains of investing, saving, and financial planning.

As you delve into these reads, it’s important to remember that knowledge, while powerful, is most effective when coupled with action. These books arm you with the knowledge to make informed financial decisions. However, it’s the proactive steps you take afterwards that will truly shape your financial future. Financial planning, then, becomes the bridge between what you’ve learned and its real-world application.

A well-structured financial plan allows you to set tangible goals, chart out strategies to achieve them, and monitor your progress. Whether it’s early retirement, purchasing a dream home, or ensuring a comfortable life for your loved ones, a robust financial plan turns these aspirations into achievable milestones.

As you consume the invaluable information these books offer, consider complementing your newfound knowledge by delving into the realm of financial planning. It’s the natural next step that can unlock the true potential of what you’ve learned, ensuring that you don’t just become financially literate, but also financially astute and proactive. Remember, the journey to financial freedom is not just about understanding money—it’s about making it work for you in the most optimized way.

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• Best Personal Finance Books of 2024
• Importance of Personal Finance Literacy
• Benefits of Personal Finance Books
• Want to Read More?

Best Personal Finance Books to Read in 2024

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Introduction to the Best Personal Finance Books of 2024

• "Get Good with Money" by Tiffany "The Budgetnista" Aliche
• "Retire Before Mom & Dad" by Rob Berger
• "How I Invest My Money" by Joshua Brown and Brian Portnoy
• "The Simple Path to Wealth" by JL Collins
• "Financial Feminist: Overcoming the Patriarchy's Bullsh*t to Master Your Money and Build a Life You Love" by Tori Dunlap
• " Deeper Than Money: Ditch Money Shame, Build Wealth, and Feel Confident AF" by Chloe Elise
• "The Financial Diet: A Total Beginner's Guide to Getting Good with Money" by Chelsea Fagan and Lauren Ver Hage
• "Cultura and Cash: Lessons from the First Gen Mentor for Managing Finances and Cultural Expectations" by Giovanna González
• "Finance for the People: Getting a Grip on Your Finances" by Paco de Leon
• "Broke Millennial Takes On Investing " by Erin Lowry
• "The Money Manual: A Practical Money Guide to Help You Succeed on Your Financial Journey" by Tonya B. Rapley
• "The Poverty Paradox: Understanding Economic Hardship Amid American Prosperity" by Mark Robert Rank
• "Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away" by Julien and Kiersten Saunders
• "I Will Teach You to be Rich" by Ramit Sethi
• "Spend Well, Live Rich" by Michelle Singletary
• "Clever Girl Finance: Learn How Investing Works, Grow Your Money" by Bola Sokunbi
• "The Millionaire Next Door" by Thomas J. Stanley
• "When She Makes More" by Farnoosh Torabi

Diving into a book can be a great way to learn more about personal finance. Business Insider's personal finance team put together a list of 18 of the top personal finance books for 2024. 

Our top picks cover a wide range of money topics. So whether you want to retire early , invest in the stock market, start conversations about money with your family, or just see money from a different point of view, we have options for you to discover.

Our list of must-read personal finance books includes our personal favorites and some with truly impressive Amazon reviews and ratings.

'Get Good With Money: Ten Simple Steps To Becoming Financially Whole,' by Tiffany 'The Budgetnista' Aliche

Tiffany Aliche, aka The Budgetnista, shares her own triumph over debt and financial hardships. "Get Good With Money" also includes worksheets to help you assess your financial wellness without shame or judgment. This book also covers a wide range of personal topics like how to build an emergency fund from how to improve your credit score.

• People who want to pay off debt
• People who like worksheets
• Young professionals

'Retire Before Mom and Dad,' by Rob Berger

For anyone considering early retirement through the FIRE (Financially Independent, Retire Early) movement , this book is a quintessential primer on the principles of getting started on this path. But, it also looks at principles that make financial independence and retirement attainable, even if retiring early isn't on your list.

• People who want to retire early
• People who want to build wealth

'How I Invest My Money,' by Joshua Brown and Brian Portnoy

If you've ever wondered how your financial advisor, a venture capitalist, or that money expert on the internet invests their money, Brian Portnoy and Joshua Brown have answers.

With pithy stories from 25 financial experts, this book advances on basic personal finance topics, giving readers ideas to implement as they take the next steps on their financial journeys.

It's not the best choice for anyone who's new to managing money, as it lacks enough explanation of the basics to be a stand-alone guide. But for readers who are ready to make new financial moves, this book will prove helpful.

• Strategies for how to save money , and build wealth
• People who are looking for inspiration to take the next step with their money

The Simple Path to Wealth: Your Road Map to Financial Independence and a Rich, Free Life,' by JL Collins

The principles of "The Simple Path to Wealth" were first laid out in a series of letters by the author to his daughter, and there's no shortage of accessible and actionable advice on investing throughout the book.

It takes on a light and casual tone in some chapters but doesn't shy away from explanations of more complicated topics, either, like the nuances of investing in a bear or bull market . It's the highest-rated personal finance book on the list, with over 3,800 Amazon reviews and an average rating of 4.8 stars.

'Financial Feminist: Overcoming the Patriarchy's Bullsh*t to Master Your Money and Build a Life You Love,' by Tori Dunlap

In "Financial Feminist," entrepreneur and author Tori Dunlap teaches women how to advocate for their worth and channel their emotions to make smart money decisions. Dunlap offers a financial game plan that helps you build a career you love.

• Socially conscious millennial women

'Deeper Than Money: Ditch Money Shame, Build Wealth, and Feel Confident AF' by Chloe Elise

In "'Deeper Than Money" Chloe Elise offers an approachable, insightful perspective on personal finance. Elise takes into account that everyone's situation is unique. It's important to build your own relationship with money rather than following set rules and guidelines. Elise shares moments from her own journey to show readers how they can adjust their mindset.

• Changing your money mindset and building confidence around money management
• Millennial women

'The Financial Diet: A Total Beginner's Guide to Getting Good with Money,' by Chelsea Fagan and Lauren Ver Hage

A great book for beginners, "The Financial Diet" lays a groundwork for anyone wanting to learn more about money and life. Best for young adults, Fagan dives into starting to invest and saving for retirement, as well as budgeting and debt repayment plans. The advice here is no-frills and easy to put into practice.

• Personal finance beginners

'Cultura and Cash: Lessons from the First Gen Mentor for Managing Finances and Cultural Expectations' by Giovanna González

Giovanna González acknowledges that cultural expectations and first-generation experiences can impact a person's money management in "Cultura and Cash." Latinx and first-generation readers can relate to a lot of the experiences González writes about — something you won't see in other personal finance books.

Ultimately, this book does a great job of teaching you how to embrace the best of two different cultural systems— the individualist nature of the U.S. and the family-oriented view of Latinx cultures — so you can learn how to manage your money.

• Women of color
• Latinx learning about personal finance
• First gen in the U.S.

'Finance for the People,' by Paco de Leon

In "Finance for the People," former financial planner Paco de Leon explains how to take personal responsibility for our personal finances despite inequities out of our control, while providing the necessary tools to help you build a strong financial foundation.

• Visual learners
• Socially conscious millennials and Gen Zers
• Holistic financial wellness advice

'Broke Millennial Takes On Investing: A Beginner's Guide To Leveling Up Your Money,' by Erin Lowry

"Broke Millennial" took the world by storm with great budgeting tips written specifically for avocado-toast-brunching millennials. Erin Lowry is back at it again with a practical, easy-to-read guide to investing. Packed with tips for beginners, "Broke Millennial Takes On Investing" will teach you how to navigate the market in alignment with your beliefs and values.

• Socially conscious investors

'The Money Manual' by Tonya B. Rapley

"The Money Manual" is a guidebook to the basics of managing money, from saving to building credit . Written by the blogger behind Myfabfinance.com, this book is both engaging and approachable, with money lessons that are applicable no matter how much you're earning.

This book is more interactive than most, with sections of questions and space for writing. The book starts with a simple money check-in, and from the beginning gives actionable advice that can help you understand where you are and where you want to go.

• Young adults and millennials
• Re-learning the basics of budgeting and saving
• Hands-on learners

'The Poverty Paradox: Understanding Economic Hardship Amid American Prosperity' by Mark Robert Rank

"The Poverty Paradox" is technically a social science book.  Still, it's a great book to read if you're learning about personal finance because it helps you realize how systems in the U.S. can create wealth inequality .

This may help you shift your money mindset because you'll gain a better understanding of how external factors contribute to poverty. Rank is an expert in this area, and shares research in the book to support each of his points.

• Understanding wealth inequality and poverty in the U.S.
• Shifting your money mindset

'Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away,' by Julien and Kiersten Saunders

Early retirees Julien and Kiersten Saunders, founders of the award-winning blog rich®ULAR, outline the exact 15-year plan they used to retire in their 40s. "Cashing Out" walks readers through the process of building a lasting wealth-building plan without sacrificing too many small pleasures that keep you going.

• Anyone experiencing burnout in a high-stress job
• First-time investors

'I Will Teach You To Be Rich,' by Ramit Sethi

Personal finance author Ramit Sethi outlines a six-week plan for living out your "rich life" as you define it. "I Will Teach You to be Rich" by Ramit Sethi walks readers through how to use credit cards and maximize rewards, opening a high-yield savings account to earn interest, and even automating accounts to save with no effort every month. This easy-to-read and highly actionable book goes from reading to returns quickly.

• Making a plan
• Strategizing with your money
• Setting up systems to build wealth

'Spend Well, Live Rich: How to Get What You Want with the Money You Have,' by Michelle Singletary

Author Michelle Singletary reflects on her life with her grandmother, who raised five children (including the author) on a modest salary. Singletary looks into the principles that her grandmother used with her own finances to make the most of what she had. It's best for anyone wanting inspiration on making the most of the money they already have.

• Inspiration

'Clever Girl Finance,' by Bola Sokunbi

This easy-to-read guide to money doesn't make assumptions — it starts with the very basics of building wealth and builds on them. This book roots its lessons in reality with real-life anecdotes, including from the author herself.

It doesn't require any prior knowledge, either. It covers the basics of organizing money and how to budget , then explains the credit system, debt, investing, and even asking for a raise.

It's an excellent choice for anyone who is just getting started with personal finance, or simply wants a refresher on the basics.

• Anyone searching for a crash course on managing money and building wealth

'The Millionaire Next Door,' by Thomas J. Stanley

Thomas J. Stanley's profile of America's wealthy citizens finds that they're more similar than they are different, and they're not all the people you'd expect. Stanley looks at millionaires and finds seven habits that they have in common, including living below their means and rejecting traditional consumerism. Stanley's insights have earned this book over 5,300 five-star reviews.

'When She Makes More,' by Farnoosh Torabi

"When She Makes More" author and personal finance expert Farnoosh Torabi explores a reality she lives with every day: being a breadwinner and a woman in a different-sex relationship. She looks at the realities and the rules she's made with her partner, and discusses ways to maximize earnings and minimize conflict.

• Starting a conversation about money

The Importance of Personal Finance Literacy

If you're just starting your financial journey or struggling with certain aspects of managing your money, a personal finance book can be a great way to learn fundamental concepts.

For example, the best books on investing can help you learn the difference between a Roth IRA and Traditional IRA , as well as how to invest in the stock market.

Personal finance books for budgeting can teach you different budgeting strategies like the pay-yourself-first method or the 50/30/20 rule so you can learn to manage spending and save money over time.

Some personal finance books also cater to specific audiences. For instance, there are several books that include personal experiences the writer has faced, and how they've overcome these issues. Personal finance books for people of color often acknowledge systemic barriers people of color face and include nuances in culture when framing money strategies.

Benefits of Reading Personal Finance Books

The main benefit of reading personal finance books is that you can learn about different approaches to money management.

While there are similar jargon and fundamental concepts that you'll find across many personal finance books, you'll also find that many experts share different opinions, experiences, and strategies regarding money concepts. You get to take these nuggets of wisdom and shape your own ideas to cultivate a system that works for you and helps you achieve your savings goals . 

Want to Read More? Try These:

Not every book we wanted to mention made the top 18. Here are a few more good choices to continue your reading:

• "The Intelligent Investor," by Benjamin Graham
• "Girl, Get Your Credit Straight!," by Glinda Bridgforth
• "Financially Fearless: The LearnVest Program for Taking Control of Your Money," by Alexa Von Tobel
• "Millionaire Teacher: The Nine Rules of Wealth You Should Have Learned in School," by Andrew Hallam
• "The Automatic Millionaire," by David Bach
• "You Are a Badass at Making Money," by Jen Sincero
• "Your Money or Your Life," by Vicki Robin
• "Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties" by Beth Kobliner

Personal Finance Books FAQs

Our must-read personal books for beginners are "The Financial Diet" by Chelsea Fagan and Lauren Ver Hage, "Finance for the People" by Paco de Leon, "The Poverty Paradox" by Mark Robert Rank, and "I Will Teach You to be Rich" by Ramit Sethi. 

Some of the best personal finance books for investing include "How I Invest My Money" by Joshua Brown and Brian Portnoy, "The Simple Path to Wealth" by JL Collins, "Broke Millennial Takes On Investing" by Erin Lowry, and "The Millionaire Next Door" by Thomas J. Stanley.

Yes, there are personal finance books specifically for women. The best personal finance books for women include "Financial Feminist" by Tori Dunlap, "Deeper Than Money" by Chloe Elise, "Cultura and Cash" by Giovanna González, and "When She Makes More" by Farnoosh Torabi.

"Retire Before Mom and Dad" by Rob Berger talks about the FIRE movement. "Cashing Out" by Julien and Kiersten Saunders is another option people can read if they want to retire early.

For budgeting tips, you should read "The Money Manual" by Tonya B. Ripley, "Spend Well, Live Rich" by Michelle Singletary, and "Clever Girl Finance"  by Bola Sokunbi.

Yes, there are personal finance books with tips and strategies for paying off debt . Our top reads for people who want to pay off debt are "Get Good With Money" by Tiffany Aliche, " The Financial Diet" by Chelsea Fagan and Lauren Ver Hage,  and "Deeper Than Money" by Chloe Elise.

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The 10 best personal finance books of 2022

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If you’re looking for a practical book for your summer reading, Bankrate’s list of the best personal finance books for 2022 offer insightful and trustworthy expertise on what to do with your money.

‘The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy,’ by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko

Whom this book is best for :

Anyone who wants to learn from the financial behavior of millionaires.

Why the book made Bankrate’s list :

Being rich doesn’t mean being flashy. In fact, it’s the opposite. “The Millionaire Next Door” reveals that many affluent individuals shy away from buying the most expensive cars and taking the most over-the-top vacations, opting instead for a disciplined approach to their money. It turns out that being a millionaire relies more on being thrifty.

‘How to Make Your Money Last: The Indispensable Retirement Guide,’ by Jane Bryant Quinn

Retirees looking to build wealth through solid investment advice.

Why the book made Bankate’s list :

If you have questions about how to sustain your investments through your retirement, “How to Make Your Money Last” has the answers. With thoughtful details on ways to supplement income from Social Security, investments and more, Quinn shows how to create a recurring paycheck that will have you living comfortably through retirement .

‘A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing,’ by Burton G. Malkiel

Anyone (specifically business students) who wants to understand how the stock market works.

If you’re new to investing , “A Random Walk Down Wall Street” lays out a solid blueprint for success. Malkiel goes into detail on a variety of investing strategies including smart beta investing (which combines the benefits of passive investing and the advantages of active investing strategies) and finding opportunities in emerging markets. In the process, the reader gains an understanding of the complex world of investing.

‘The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing,’ by Benjamin Graham

Readers who want a deeper understanding of the risks and rewards of investing.

”The Intelligent Investor” is the gold standard of investing, teaching the importance of value investing , which enables investors to develop long-term strategies. And with updated insight from financial reporter Jason Zweig, readers will gain an understanding of long-term values and how they can incorporate them into the current financial landscape.

‘Bunny Money (Max and Ruby),’ by Rosemary Wells

Children looking to learn the basics of personal finance.

The story in this children’s book is about bunnies Max and Ruby who are trying to buy their grandma a gift for her birthday. As they set out, they encounter a series of adventures that deplete their money supply. In the process, children discover how their decisions impact the money they have.

‘Spend Well, Live Rich: How to Get What You Want with the Money You Have,’ by Michelle Singletary

Readers who want practical advice on how to manage their money.

Singletary chronicles the “7 Money Mantras for a Richer Life” she learned from her grandmother. These mantras may be simple in nature, but they provide a firm foundation for anyone hoping to strengthen financial behavior. The book differentiates between wants and needs and why you should sweat the small stuff.

‘Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together,’ by Erin Lowry

Millennials who want to understand the basics of money management and how to avoid common financial errors.

Lowry creates a blueprint millennials (ages 26-41) can use to go from living from paycheck to paycheck to achieving financial goals. She delves into the thought process behind making financial decisions, such as, “Do you treat your money like a Tinder date or a marriage?” By providing applicable insight and relatable stories, Lowry gives those in their 20s, 30s and early 40s the basics they need to make better money decisions.

‘Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties,’ by Beth Kobliner

Those in their 20s and 30s seeking guidance on managing their finances.

Why this book made Bankrate’s list :

“Get a Financial Life” covers all aspects of personal finance from how to file taxes and investing, to strategies for improving your credit scores . Kobliner creates a guide that encompasses every aspect of your financial life, with practical suggestions for achieving financial goals.

‘When She Makes More: 10 Rules for Breadwinning Women,’ by Farnoosh Torabi

Female breadwinners looking to balance the health of their relationships and finances.

Torabi tackles a relevant topic to today’s social and financial climate: An increasing number of wives are making more money than their husbands. In 2020, women made more than their male partners in 29.9 percent of marriages, according to the Census Bureau. Twenty years earlier, the percentage was more than 6 percentage points lower (23.3 percent). In “When She Makes More,” Torabi highlights that there are significant financial but also psychological effects the changing role of the breadwinner has on those in committed relationships. Her advice is directed at women to make the most of their financial circumstances and keep their relationships healthy, but it can help men to understand relationship dynamics as well when their partner is the breadwinner.

‘Simple Wealth: The Practical Guide to Transform Your Relationship with Money and Live in Abundance,’ by Holly Morphew

Consumers looking to have more confidence in their financial decisions.

Making a change in your financial life means making a change in your personal life, too. “Simple Wealth” shows how personal life decisions and financial decisions go hand in hand, providing practical advice in terms that are easy to grasp. Morphew, a financial counselor, breaks down not only how to escape the “shame cycle of money,” but also how to make affirmative moves toward financial independence and success.

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The 17 Best Personal Finance Books for Newbies

Simon Litt is the editor of The CFO Club, specializing in covering a range of financial topics. His career has seen him focus on both personal and corporate finance for digital publications, public companies, and digital media brands across the globe.

Everyone starts somewhere... but winners start here. These are my picks for the best finance books to start managing your money effectively.

I love helping people learn about personal finance. My mum was a banker, so fortunately, I learned the language of money really young—unfortunately, if this wasn't your upbringing, you're never really taught about personal finance.

I've taken to teaching people about financial concepts, whether by editing this publication or writing about it on my own... but I recognize that some authors are much better teachers than I am.

These are some of the best finance books you can find out there. Tuck in, and let's get started.

17 Best Finance Books For Beginners Shortlist

A brave claim, but I think these 17 books are the best personal finance books for beginners, full stop.

• Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
• The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham and Jason Zweig
• The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
• Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin & Joe Dominguez
• The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley
• The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John C. Bogle
• A Random Walk Down Wall Street by Burton Malkiel
• Broke Millennial by Erin Lowry
• I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
• The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins
• The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason
• Unshakeable by Tony Robbins
• The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke by Suze Orman
• The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape
• Nudge by Richard H. Thaler & Cass R. Sunstein
• Personal Finance for Dummies by Eric Tyson
• The Index Card by Helaine Olen & Harold Pollack

Overviews Of The 17 Best Finance Books For Beginners

Here’s a quick summary of each book, what you’ll learn, and why you should read it, plus a quote from the book where applicable.

1. Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert Kiyosaki

"Rich Dad Poor Dad" is a book that contrasts the mindset and financial knowledge of Kiyosaki's “Rich Dad” and “Poor Dad.” It illustrates the fundamental financial principles and illustrates the importance of investing in assets and starting entrepreneurial ventures to achieve financial independence.

What You'll Learn:

You will gain insights into the importance of financial education and wealth-building strategies. The book provides fundamental concepts on the difference between assets and liabilities, emphasizing the significance of making money work for you to avoid the rat race of life.

Why You Should Read It:

This book is essential for beginners as it lays down the foundational principles of financial intelligence. It is an enlightening read that offers a new perspective on money, work, and life and is crucial for anyone looking to break free from the cycle of earning and spending.

Quote From The Book:

“The poor and the middle class work for money. The rich have money to work for them.”

About The Author:

Robert Kiyosaki is a renowned entrepreneur, investor, and educator, championing the cause of financial literacy. Connect with him on LinkedIn , and Twitter , or explore more about his works and philosophies on his company website .

2. The Intelligent Investor Rev. Ed: The Definitive Book on Value Investing by Benjamin Graham and Jason Zweig

"The Intelligent Investor" is a comprehensive guidebook on value investing. Benjamin Graham’s philosophy of “value investing” shields investors from substantial error and teaches them to develop long-term strategies, making this book an invaluable tool in the world of investing.

You will learn the principles of value investing, risk management , and the development of long-term strategies. Graham's philosophy will guide you on avoiding substantial error and teach the art of "value investing" to achieve consistent, long-term success.

This book is a beacon for individuals desiring to refine their investing skills and decisions. It delves into the psychology of investing, which is crucial for avoiding the pitfalls that emotions can lead to, making it an indispensable read for anyone serious about attaining success in investing.

“In the short run, the market is a voting machine, but in the long run, it is a weighing machine.”

Benjamin Graham was a notable economist and professional investor.

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3. The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey

The Total Money Makeover" provides a bold and straightforward approach to money management . Dave Ramsey provides a comprehensive plan to get out of debt, save money, and invest wisely, aimed at those who seek financial fitness and stability.

You’ll learn the steps to eliminate debt, build an emergency fund, and invest wisely. Ramsey provides actionable advice on budgeting, saving, and avoiding debt, enabling readers to achieve financial stability and wealth.

Dave Ramsey’s proven money-making strategies and debt-reduction methods have transformed the financial lives of millions. This book is for anyone desiring to attain financial fitness and avert the common pitfalls related to debt and spending.

“We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like.”

Dave Ramsey is a financial guru and best-selling author focusing on personal finance. Explore more about his financial wisdom on LinkedIn , and Twitter , or visit his website for more resources and insights.

4. Your Money or Your Life: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial MORE by Vicki Robin & Joe Dominguez

"Your Money or Your Life" is a groundbreaking book that redefines the relationship one has with money, emphasizing living a more deliberate and fulfilled life. It presents a systematic program for transforming your relationship with money and achieving financial independence.

You’ll absorb strategies for debt-free living, saving money, and making conscious spending decisions. This book helps readers understand the value of money in correlation to time and life energy, redefining how to approach earning and spending.

This book is a treasure for those yearning to attain a life of financial independence and value-based living. It’s an essential read for anyone looking to transform their relationship with money and seeking a life of more freedom and fulfillment.

“Money is something we choose to trade our life energy for.”

Vicki Robin is a renowned author and speaker, advocating for financial independence and a sustainable lifestyle. Explore more about Vicki on LinkedIn , Twitter , or her personal website .

5. The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley

"The Millionaire Next Door" uncovers the common traits of those who accumulate wealth, debunking myths about the wealthy. It presents extensive research on millionaires and their lifestyles, breaking stereotypes and highlighting the path to building wealth.

Readers will learn about the seven common traits found among those who accumulate wealth, including living below one's means and allocating time, energy, and money efficiently.

This book is insightful for individuals aspiring to accumulate wealth by living purposefully. It reveals the real picture of wealth in America, offering a roadmap to becoming the ‘millionaire next door’ through disciplined and resilient wealth-building strategies.

“Wealth is not the same as income. If you make a good income each year and spend it all, you are not getting wealthier. You are just living high.”

Thomas J. Stanley was a bestselling author and a researcher on the affluent in America. For more insights and research, visit his website .

6 . The Little Book of Common Sense Investing: The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair Share of Stock Market Returns by John C. Bogle

John C. Bogle's book is a guiding light in the world of investing, providing the blueprint for owning a portion of a stock market portfolio. It emphasizes the benefits of low-cost index funds, highlighting the importance of simplicity in investment strategy.

You will understand the essence of simplicity in investing, the importance of focusing on the long term, and the value of relying on well-established, low-cost index funds to achieve reliable returns.

For anyone willing to navigate the investment maze, this book serves as a beacon, unraveling the importance of simplicity and long-term focus. It's a crucial read to make the most of your investments and avoid the pitfalls of complex, costly investing strategies.

“A low-cost index fund is the most sensible equity investment for the great majority of investors.”

John C. Bogle was the founder of the Vanguard Group and a major proponent of index investing.

7. A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing by Burton Malkiel

Burton Malkiel’s esteemed work offers a comprehensive guide to various investment opportunities, focusing on the ‘random walk’ hypothesis. It elucidates a myriad of investment strategies, advocating for the long-term buy-and-hold strategy.

You'll gain insights into the functioning of the stock market, the effectiveness of technical and fundamental analysis, and the foundational principles of a successful investment portfolio.

This book provides an extensive understanding of the complexities of the stock market, making it an invaluable resource for anyone aiming to navigate the ever-evolving investment landscape successfully. Its empirical wisdom is crucial for making informed and prudent investment decisions.

“The problem with gold is that it does not earn any return and its price is determined solely by demand relative to supply.”

Burton Malkiel is an economist and writer, specializing in the stock market and investment strategies.

8. Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together by Erin Lowry

Erin Lowry's book is a practical and accessible guide, tailored to address the financial concerns and aspirations of millennials. It brings forth a plethora of real-life scenarios, advice, and actionable tips to manage money effectively.

You will learn the nitty-gritty of budgeting, investing, handling debt, and understanding your money mindset.

Erin Lowry’s practical advice and relatable narrative make this book a must-read for millennials struggling with financial dilemmas. It’s a step toward financial literacy and empowerment, helping the reader navigate their financial journey with confidence.

“It’s not about hitting a $1 million mark; it’s about managing the money you have in a way that helps you live your best life.”

Erin Lowry is a millennial personal finance expert, speaker, and author. You can follow her insights and connect with her on LinkedIn .

9. I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi

Ramit Sethi’s book is a bold, conversational guide to wealth creation, emphasizing no-guilt money philosophies. It offers a robust six-week personal finance program focused on banking, saving, budgeting, and investing.

Readers will learn the intricacies of banking, saving, budgeting, and investing, along with mastering the psychology of money to live a rich life.

With a relatable and unapologetic approach, this book is for anyone aiming to master their money without sacrificing entertainment and leisure. It offers a blend of wealth-building strategies and insights into leveraging money as a tool to achieve life’s riches.

“There is a limit to how much you can cut but there is no limit to how much you can earn.”

Ramit Sethi is a personal finance advisor, author, and entrepreneur. Connect with him on LinkedIn , or explore his philosophies on his company website .

10. The Simple Path to Wealth: Your Road Map to Financial Independence and a Rich, Free Life by JL Collins

JL Collins presents a succinct guide to financial independence and wealth-building, emphasizing the power of simplicity and consistent investments in low-cost index funds.

You'll uncover the principles of financial independence, the significance of savings, and the essence of sound investment in achieving a wealthy, free life.

This book is vital for those seeking a straightforward path to wealth, providing clear strategies and insights on managing money and investments to attain financial freedom. It's a guide to understanding money in its simplest form and using it as a tool to shape your future.

“Prosperity is only an instrument to be used, not a deity to be worshipped.”

JL Collins is a renowned financial blogger and author.

11. The Richest Man in Babylon: The Original 1926 Edition by George S. Clason

George S. Clason’s timeless classic uses ancient Babylonian parables to impart fundamental financial lessons. It provides foundational wisdom on wealth accumulation, preservation, and sharing.

You’ll grasp essential financial principles such as living below your means, seeking wise counsel, and investing wisely for income through the enchanting parables from the wealthiest city of the ancient world, Babylon.

The allegorical tales in this book render timeless financial wisdom and are a beacon for anyone looking to establish a solid financial foundation. Its enduring lessons on wealth creation are as relevant today as they were in 1926.

“Start thy purse to fattening.”

George S. Clason was a soldier, businessman, and writer, best known for his instructive works on financial success. More about his life and works can be discovered through historical records and his lasting contributions to financial literature.

12. Unshakeable by Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins’ “Unshakeable” serves as a financial freedom playbook, illustrating the strategies of the world's top investor, Warren Buffet. Robbins deciphers the codes to financial success, wealth management, and long-term financial freedom in this insightful read.

You’ll delve into the financial strategies and investment secrets from some of the world’s most successful investors and learn the keys to building long-term wealth even in the most uncertain economic times.

Robbins’ expertise, coupled with insights from financial giants, makes this book an essential read for those aiming to attain financial resilience and independence. It offers a holistic view of wealth creation, focusing on both financial strategies and the psychological aspects of money.

“The stock market is a device for transferring money from the impatient to the patient.”

Tony Robbins is a world-renowned life and business strategist, author, and entrepreneur. Connect with him through LinkedIn , or Twitter , or visit his company website for more resources and insights.

13. The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke by Suze Orman

Suze Orman’s book is a finance guide for the younger generation, addressing specific financial challenges faced by young adults and providing practical advice on credit, investing, and retirement.

Gain insights into managing debt, building credit, saving, investing, and achieving financial stability even with limited resources. Understand how to make informed financial decisions that lead to a secure future.

This book is a must-read for young adults struggling to navigate the complex world of finance. It offers practical, step-by-step guidance to overcome financial hurdles and build a robust financial future, making it especially pertinent to those who are young, fabulous, and broke.

“True financial freedom is not only having money but having power over that money as well.”

Suze Orman is a renowned financial advisor, author, and speaker. To learn more about her philosophies and get more financial advice, visit her website or connect with her on LinkedIn .

14. The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape

Scott Pape’s “The Barefoot Investor” provides Australians with a step-by-step guide to financial freedom, offering simple strategies for managing money, investing wisely, and securing a stress-free retirement.

Discover the principles of sound money management, debt reduction, and retirement planning with easy-to-follow steps and financial advice applicable to real-life situations.

This book’s no-nonsense approach to financial planning and its specific focus on Australian financial landscapes make it a valuable read for anyone, regardless of their financial knowledge or background, looking to gain control over their finances and live freely.

“Don’t follow the herd. It doesn’t end well.”

Scott Pape is a distinguished financial counselor and author specializing in personal finance. You can connect with him through his website for more financial strategies and advice.

15. Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness by Richard H. Thaler & Cass R. Sunstein

“Nudge” explores how the design of choices impacts our decisions and how slight changes can significantly improve our ability to make better choices in health, wealth, and happiness.

Understand the concept of "choice architecture" and how it influences decision-making processes. Learn how to set up environments that nudge people towards decisions that are beneficial in the long run.

This book is essential for anyone interested in understanding human behavior and decision-making. It provides insights into how subtle changes can lead to significant improvements in making choices, whether it’s about personal finance, health, or overall well-being.

“A nudge… is any aspect of the choice architecture that alters people’s behavior predictably without forbidding any options or significantly changing their economic incentives.”

About The Authors:

Richard H. Thaler is a Nobel Laureate, and Cass R. Sunstein is a legal scholar. Explore more of their work on behavioral economics and law through their respective academic profiles and publications.

16. Personal Finance for Dummies by Eric Tyson

Eric Tyson’s book is a comprehensive guide to building wealth and securing financial stability. It covers a range of topics including budgeting, reducing debt, investing, insurance, taxes, and retirement planning.

This book offers extensive knowledge on managing money, building wealth, and planning for the future. It provides practical tips and advice to handle personal finance efficiently and make informed financial decisions.

“Personal Finance for Dummies” is suitable for those seeking to understand the basics of financial management and gain control over their financial life. Its detailed approach makes it an invaluable resource for anyone looking to enhance their financial literacy.

“Taking control of your finances is a life-long skill—well worth the investment of your time and energy.”

Eric Tyson is an accomplished finance author and speaker. For more insights on personal finance and to connect with him, you can visit his company website .

17. The Index Card: Why Personal Finance Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated by Helaine Olen & Harold Pollack

Olen and Pollack demystify personal finance, asserting that all the financial information one needs can fit on a single index card. The book offers straightforward advice on spending less, saving more, investing wisely, and navigating the maze of financial products and services.

Learn the fundamental principles of personal finance, including saving, spending, investing, and securing a robust financial future, all distilled into simple, actionable steps.

The simplistic yet profound approach of “The Index Card” makes it a must-read for anyone overwhelmed by the complexity of personal finance. It provides clarity and actionable advice to improve financial health without unnecessary complications.

“The best financial advice is simple, easy to understand, and inexpensive.”

Helaine Olen is a commentator on personal finance, and Harold Pollack is a public health researcher. For more insights and advice visit Helaine’s LinkedIn .

Which Best Finance Books For Beginners Do You Recommend?

I invite you to share any pivotal finance books you believe should be included in this list. Your insights are valued, and your recommendations are welcomed, as they can help enhance this collection and assist others on their journey to financial literacy and independence.

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The Best Finance Books, Blogs, Podcasts, and Other Resources

August 28, 2019 By

A strong level of financial literacy— theory, understanding financial statements, budgeting and planning, corporate structure, how equity and debt markets work, what derivatives are—will be a huge boost for almost any career.

Finance is a much more general and broadly applicable skill than most people think. Having financial skills will help you in your personal life, any nonprofit work you participate in, or if you want to start your own company.

It’s hard to describe why, precisely, finance is so broadly useful. It certainly didn’t seem that useful to me when I was starting my career. Perhaps at the most basic level, finance is about how money moves around. Money, you may have noticed, is a pretty big explainer of how humans work. So, if you understand how money works and moves, it can go a long way to understanding how humans work.

You can almost think of the capitalist era since the Industrial Revolution like a video game where pots of money (as a proxy for wealth ) “spawn” on different parts of the map with entrepreneurs running around trying to find them. Finance is like the armorer in the village that determines who has the best gear to fight their way through to the pot of gold. Gear alone is not that useful. But, when you are competing with many other people, even slightly better gear can be the difference between finding the pot of money and getting nothing.

Most of us, however, didn’t learn anything about finance as part of high school or college and so, for the most part, we need to be self-taught.

I started reading books on finance after school and over the years have learned a lot and found it increasingly useful. Here are some of the books and resources I’ve found most useful. I’ll start with business finance (how to understand the finance going on in your company), move on to investing books (how to reinvest those profits) then cover some of the theory and history underlying both.

Business Finance

Financial intelligence for entrepreneurs: what you really need to know about the numbers  – karen berman and joe knight.

Accounting is the language of business. And if you don’t speak it, you can get yourself into some nasty trouble. This book was recommended to me by an entrepreneur who blew up his first business because he didn’t understand the finances, a far more common experience than you would think (particularly with inventory-based businesses).

Berman and Knight walk through the essential tools entrepreneurs need to understand their business: how to read and manage income statements and balance sheets.

Profit First – Mike Michalowicz

Profit First is a simplified accounting system for small business owners. The point is simple (you should take profits), but it offers a very practical set of helpful tips and systems for actually setting up bank accounts and moving money between them.

Investing Finance

The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America  ( My Notes ) – Warren Buffett

You can’t have a list of finance books without including Warren Buffet. Love him or hate him, he is the (almost) multi-Billion dollar gorilla in the room. This is an edited collection of Buffet’s writing over the course of his (lengthy) career.

The book cover the three biggest ideas of Buffett’s investment philosophy: sticking to your circle of competence, making sure you have a margin of safety, and not falling prey to the emotional whims of “Mr. Market.”

The Most Important Thing Illuminated: Uncommon Sense for the Thoughtful Investor – Howard Marks

A large percentage of the best investors I know personally have cited Howard Marks as one of the greatest living investors. With an astounding track record of ~20% per annum returns for 25+ years, he certainly has the right to make the claim. He became well known publicly for his semi-annual memos (which are worth subscribing to) when he called the dot-com bubble in the late 90’s. Marks is a value investor in the vein of Warren Buffett and Seth Klarman. 

The Most Important Thing is an annotated collection of his memos sorted by theme including understanding risk, the relationship between value and price, and market cycles. If you read my notes , you’ll notice I highlighted about half the book which should say enough about what I thought of it.

The Intelligent Investor – Benjamin Graham

Benjamin Graham was Warren Buffet’s mentor and The Intelligent Investor was his definitive work and the most popular guide on stock selection ever written. Graham was one of the original “value investors” which focused not on profit maximization, but loss minimization.

The book walks through a number of different ways of constructing a portfolio and case studies on stock picking using Graham’s methodology. All in all a good introduction that covers a lot of terminology and market structure.

The Star Principle: How it Can Make You Rich – Richard Koch

Richard Koch is most well known for his book The 80/20 Principle on how individuals can better prioritize to achieve more with less. In The Star Principle, Koch shows how he applied his 80/20 philosophy to make over £100 million from spotting ‘Star’ businesses. 

The book focuses on a framework developed by management consulting firms that categorizes firms as stars, cash cows, dogs or question marks based on the growth rate of their industry and their relative position in it.

What I Learned Losing A Million Dollars ( My Notes ) –   Jim Paul and Brendan Moynihan

There are many ways to make money investing, but there are only a few ways to lose money investing. If you can avoid losing money for long enough, you’ll eventually figure out some way to make money.

It follows then that studying how to lose money is perhaps a better way to learn to invest. What I Learned Losing A Million Dollars follows the story of Jim Paul’s meteoric rise from a small town in Northern Kentucky to governor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and his equally meteoric fall in one fatal attack of excessive hubris. Understanding the events that led to Paul’s disastrous decision and the psychological factors behind them is an invaluable tool.

Theoretical Finance

The Incerto – Nassim Taleb

Nassim Taleb’s five-volume work, The Incerto , is probably the most influential work on my thinking about investing. The entire series is an investigation of opacity, luck, uncertainty, probability, human error, risk, and decision-making in an uncertain world. Over and over Taleb shows how individuals underestimate the role of luck and volatility, leading them to be on the wrong side of black swan events.

Antifragile is my personal favorite, but I generally recommend starting with Fooled by Randomness as it contains all the core ideas in their most digestible form.

The Evolution of Cooperation – Robert Axelrod

The classic game-theory example is the prisoner’s dilemma. You have two crime suspects being interrogated by the police separately. If they both refuse to talk, each will go to jail for one year (2 years total). If one talks and the other doesn’t, then his partner goes to jail for 3 years (so 3 years total), and if they both talk, they both go to jail for two years (4 years total). The problem is that the “rationally self-interested” thing to do is to talk, because if you don’t and your partner does then you get three years. However, from a group perspective, it’s better if both of you say nothing.

The Evolution of Cooperation lays out an explanation for how cooperation can emerge over a series of repeated prisoner’s dilemmas leading to better outcomes for both players even though it requires acting against one’s short term self-interest. The most effective strategy in the experiments run was tit for tat. That is, if your partner cooperates on the previous turn, then you would cooperate on the following or if they defected, you would defect. There’s a cool little game that shows how this works from Nicki Case .

Axelrod also lays out basic problems where cooperation doesn’t emerge. Understanding these helps you not get into these situations, or, at least, recognize what is going on.

The Use of Knowledge in Society – Friedrich Hayek

This 1945 article by German economist Friedrich Hayek lays out the case for why markets are important and how they work. He asks readers to consider (and dismiss) a world in which all information is known to a single mind. In this world, Hayek points out, allocating resources in the most rational or efficient way is strictly a math problem.

He continues to show that “[t]his, however, is emphatically not the economic problem which society faces.” In the real world, information is dispersed, incomplete, and frequently contradictory. How can we use all this dispersed, incomplete, and contradictory information to make the best use of the resources we have? (Hint: Markets!)

Technological Revolutions and Financial Capital: The Dynamics of Bubbles and Golden Ages – Carlota Pérez

Drawing on the work from economist Joseph Schumpeter, Carlota Perez shows that technological revolutions arrive with remarkable regularity, and that economies react to them in predictable phases. Her argument provides a framework not just on history, but on our own times.

She links these technological cycles to finance by analyzing the changing relationship between finance capital and production capital during the different stages of technological development, drawing parallels between technologies as different as railroad and microchips. 

Not a breezy read by any stretch, but one that has greatly informed my view of Finance. Fred Wilson, a VC at Union Square Ventures, claims it was the most influential book on their investment thesis.

Poor Charlie’s Almanac –   Peter D. Kaufman

Though much less well known than his partner, Warren Buffet, Charlie Munger is widely cited by successful investors as one of their greatest influences. Though Munger has spent a career as a value investor in public markets, his lessons have been cited by angel investors, venture capitalists and private equity managers.

Poor Charlie’s Almanac is the definitive compendium of Charlie’s writing and teaching over the course of his career.

Charlie’s philosophy centers around building a “latticework of mental models” which allow you to see companies and investments through a great range of perspectives allowing better decision making. The lessons on how Charlie has done this are broadly applicable to not just investing, but life.

Seeing Like a State: How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed – James C. Scott

Though this book is probably the least obvious on the list in terms of what it has to do with financial markets, it is one of the most influential on my thinking and I think points out a blind spot for many in the industry.

In Seeing Like a State, Scott, a Yale professor with a specialty in Early East Asian Agriculture, examines how, across dozens of domains, ranging from agriculture and forestry, to urban planning and census-taking, a very predictable failure pattern keeps recurring.

Scott calls the thinking style behind the failure mode “high modernism” whereby someone that doesn’t understand the intricate details and local knowledge of a domain comes up with an idealized blank-slate version of what it should look like or how it should work. This creates a problem, model risk—the risk that your model is not right. This runs rampant through finance. Most memorably, The 2008 financial crisis was a result of this model risk —all the models were based on the assumption that house prices could not go down because they hadn’t gone down since the end of the Second World War. Oops!?!?

Scotts’ work helps to understand and avoid this type of model risk.

The (Mis)Behavior of Markets – Benoît B. Mandelbrot

Benoit Mandelbrot is a scientist, most famously known for his study of fractals in nature. In The (Mis)Behavior of Markets, he turns his research on how fractals occur in nature to how they occur in markets.

Most notably, he shows that the bell curve model(*cough* model risk *cough) of financial markets, widely taught in business schools, is wrong. Markets are in fact much 

“From 1916 to 2003, the daily index movements of the Dow Jones Industrial Average do not spread out on graph paper like a simple bell curve. The far edges flare too high: too many big changes. Theory suggests that over that time, there should be fifty-eight days when the Dow moved more than 3.4 percent; in fact, there were 1,001. Theory predicts six days of index swings beyond 4.5 percent; in fact, there were 366. And index swings of more than 7 percent should come once every 300,000 years; in fact, the twentieth century saw forty-eight such days.”

Mandelbrot correctly points out that by underestimating these outlier events (also called tail risk or black swan events) many investing strategies boil down to picking up nickels in front of steam rollers. Mandelbrot goes on to show what his research suggests is a more robust model for thinking about financial markets.

The Ascent of Money – Nial Ferguson

In many ways, money to modern day humans is like water to fish. It is so normal and everywhere that we don’t stop to think about exactly what it is and how it affects you. Of course, it does affect us, and rather a lot. When you stop to consider how much of your life is dictated by money and how it moves around (AKA finance), the answer is “a lot.”

The Ascent of Money is a (relatively) brief history of money and finance. I love the brief-history-of-big-topic genre and thought Ferguson did an excellent job with this one. Beginning with money, then moving on to equity, debt, derivatives, and real estate, Ferguson shows how the biggest components of the modern financial system evolved and what impact they have on our lives.

The History of Money – Jack Weatherford

Weatherford, a cultural anthropologist, traces the role of money in shaping human affairs beginning with the invention of coins in Lydia 300 years ago, running through Greece, Ancient, and Renaissance Italy all the way to present day. 

The book ends by predicting we are moving into an era of “cybermoney.” Like everyone else that has fallen down the bitcoin/crypto rabbit hole, I realized I didn’t actually know what money was or how it worked and I thought this was a nice scaffolding to start to think from.

Reminisces of a Stock Operator –   Edwin Lefèvre 

Considered one of the classic books on investing, Reminiscences is a lightly fictionalized biography of stock speculator Jesse Livermore who made and lost four fortunes in his lifetime. 

Starting in the late 1800s going up through the early 1900s, Reminiscences first provides a great history of financial markets at a time that seems like the Wild Wild West compared to today. It also dives into the psychology of investing and trading with lots of lessons that remain true to this day. One of my favorites: 

‘It never was my thinking that made the big money for me. It always was my sitting. Got that? My sitting tight!”

The House of Morgan – Ron Chernow

This monster of a book (812 pages) covers over a hundred years of financial history beginning in Victorian London in the 1800s running through the shift from London to New York as the financial center of the universe and ending with the 1987 crash. 

Told through the lens of four generations of the Morgan banking dynasty, the book is as full of intrigue and excitement as it is lessons. Drawing from a huge array of sources, Chernow shows how world politics and events were shaped by the financial side—especially the influence of one dominant family: The Morgans.

Liar’s Poker and The Big Short –   Michael Lewis

In the 1980s, Michael Lewis worked as a bond trader at Solomon Brothers, one of Wall Street’s premier investment firms. Liar’s Poker is his inside account of those frenzied years looking at the combination of frat boy comradery and killer instinct that characterized Wall St. in that era.

Little did he know that Lewis Ranieri, one of his colleagues at Salomon, planted the seed for what would become the 2008 financial crisis by developing the first mortgage-backed security. In The Big Short , he chronicles what happened from the time he left Salomon leading up to the financial crisis. 

Lewis is perhaps the most talented and entertaining narrative nonfiction writer of his generation, certainly in the finance space so these are both absolute page-turners. 

Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life – Alice Schroeder

The definitive book on Warren Buffett. Historically very reserved, Buffett gave journalist Alice Schroeder open kimono access to his past. Similar to the House of Morgan or Reminisces , this book offers a great history of financial markets through the lens of Warren Buffett’s life and reveals the evolving nature of his investment philosophy from “picking up cigar butts” to “a great business at a good price.”

It also shows his personal foibles and some of the costs of his success in a way that is not widely publicly known.

Debt: The First 5,000 Years – David Graeber

There’s a story you have heard about how money was invented that goes something like this: There were a bunch of villagers sitting around and realized it was hard to barter for a hundred different things and so they came up with this thing called money that would act as a medium of exchange, store of value, and unit of account. Thus barter ended and money began.

Graeber shows that the one problem with this story is that there is not a shred of anthropological evidence that supports it. He argues that before there was money, there was debt. More than that, he argues that debt, and debt forgiveness, has been a driving force through history starting from farmers in Mesopotamia through the 2008 financial crisis.

(Not a book, but Nick Szabo’s paper, Shelling Out: The Origins of Money , offers a great counterpoint to Graeber’s argument.)

Non-Book Resources

Mr. Money Mustache – This was the blog that taught me personal finance. I don’t take my personal finance discipline to the extremes talked about, but the fundamental notion that money and time are two sides of the same coin is a powerful framework that’s influenced how I think about spending both. Start with The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement .

Epsilon Theory – Great analysis of markets through the lens of game theory and history. Start with  Things Fall Apart .

Philosophical Economics – Great in depth analysis of different market issues from a factor investor. Start with The Best Predictor of Future Stock Market Returns.

Matt Levine’s Money Stuff – Matt Levine is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering finance. Previsouly, he worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs, and a mergers and acquisitions lawyer at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. Combining insight and humor, he offers a daily tour through what’s going on financial markets.

Invest Like the Best – Part investing, part self-help, features interviews with investors and non-investors about how to better invest your time and your money. Start with How to Live a Longer, Higher Quality Life, with Peter Attia, M.D and Modest Proposal – Value is Dead, Long Live Value

The Meb Faber Show – Meb is the Chief Investment Officer of Cambria, a global asset allocation firm and hosts a great podcast exploring the topic. Start with Ed Thorpe .

Hidden Forces – Most episodes aren’t specifically finance related but the host, Demetri Kofinas, has a deep understanding of markets and weaves it into a number of fascinating fields from China to Astronomy to Blockchain. Start with The Rise of Xi Jinping and the Dawn of a New Imperial China .

EconTalk – Hosted by Russ Roberts, an economist and a research fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, EconTalk is a great exploration of economics. Start with Graham on Start-ups, Innovation, and Creativity

A16z – A rotating cast of hosts anchored by Sonal Chokshi, a16z’s podcast focuses more on the tech/venture capital side of things. Start with whatever topic interests you.

How the Economic Machine Works – A simple explanation of market cycles and debt from hedge fund investor Ray Dalio.

Real Vision – Interviews with some of the  world’s leading investors from a global Macro perspective. Start with Druckenmiller.

Further Reading Lists

• RCM Alternatives
• Meb Faber Reading List

I also got a lot of great recommendations in this Twitter Thread

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Best Financial Literacy Books: Empower Yourself With Money Skills

Some people talk about budgeting, investing and saving as if they were simple concepts for all, but the truth is, understanding money is no easy feat. What even is interest? The only interest I have is in watching cat videos.

Even though learning how to manage your money can be overwhelming to understand at first, it is a fundamental skill that can impact your life in the long term. Making informed financial decisions is key to achieving financial stability. But don’t panic just yet! The good news is that, like any other skill, financial literacy can be learned.

In this article, we’ll explore seven financial literacy books to help you take control of your finances. 

If you’re a beginner, these books can help you develop practical strategies for creating a budget, saving money and understanding the basics of investments. We’ll take it step by step, so don’t fret! And if you’re a bit more seasoned in the art of finances, we also have a few books that will give you a fresh perspective on money management.

Whether you have a little or a lot, understanding money is vital in this day and age, so let’s dive in.

Top Financial Literacy Books

Through practical advice and clear explanations, the authors of these books will empower you to take control of your own money and develop positive financial habits.

If you become hooked on this topic, we have an even more extensive list of books for in-depth knowledge. 

1. Financial Literacy for Teens  

By Chad Foster

With college just around the corner, your teenage years are an ideal time to start learning how to manage your finances, and Chad Foster knows it. This entrepreneur realized young people in America were not fully prepared for their entry into adult life, so he channeled all he learned throughout his career into Financial Literacy for Teens , a book that has been used in thousands of high school classrooms in America.

Financial Literacy for Teens explains how to save, spend, invest and give away money in an engaging writing style, which is very useful when dealing with a pretty dull topic like finances and especially convenient when you’re working with an already hard-to-engage group as teenagers.

This book emphasizes the importance of nurturing both knowledge and skill when it comes to finances. The trick is to present new concepts in a dynamic way that inspires children to take action , and Financial Literacy for Teens does it well.

Also, if you’re trying to introduce your children into the world of finances in a fun way, these apps may be a great place to start!

2. How to Money

By Jean Chatzky and Kathryn Tuggle

What better way to make a finance book more accessible than to turn it into a visual guide? How to Money is an illustrated guide written by financial experts Jean Chatzky and Kathryn Tuggle. The owners of the financial advice company HerMoney talk from experience. 

Written for young adults, including high school and college-aged students and graduates, this book teaches the ins and outs of creating a budget, navigating college loans and what to do with the money you earn in your first job. It provides actionable tips to help young adults with varying levels of financial literacy navigate financial challenges specific to them.

The world of finances is not as depersonalized as you may think. How to Money shows us this by featuring interviews with CEOs who share their financial journeys, what works and what doesn’t and their personal struggles. These conversations help put a face to every financial tip and trick the book offers.

Chatzky and Tuggle have created a straightforward guide to help young adults navigate the financial world . Money can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. How to Money makes a great case for this idea.

3. Broke Millennial  

By Erin Lowry

It shouldn’t be hard to tell that Broke Millennial was written by a former broke millennial herself. That may be, perhaps, the secret to its success. Erin Lowry, author and personal finance expert, serves as a “financial translator” who explains complex topics, such as investing, in a casual and relatable way. 

Broke Millennial not only touches upon the classic “how to save, spend, invest” triad but also delves into tricky money situations that are not often discussed in the personal finance industry, like how to split the bill when you’re out with friends or how to talk about finances with a new partner.

This book is written by a millennial for millennials with little to no financial expertise. So, its youthful perspective makes it ideal for those trying to digest the complex financial world.

4. I Will Teach You To Be Rich

By Ramit Sethi

As the saying goes, “time is money,” and this book is all about that; it’s short and to the point. As someone who studied psychology, Ramit Sethi brings his psychological insight into I Will Teach You to Be Rich to create a straightforward guide with tangible information on how to manage your money.

This book offers a six-week program that presents the four pillars of personal finance—banking, saving, budgeting, and investing—for those with little finance background. It also introduces the concept of personal entrepreneurship.

Whether you’re in your 20s or 40s, Sethi understands that you have to start somewhere. He proposes that I Will Teach You to Be Rich is a good starting point for learning useful tips to automate your finances and become financially free.

5. Rich Dad Poor Dad

By Robert T. Kiyosaki

Even though it was written in 1997, Rich Dad Poor Dad has a timeless feel. It delves into the beliefs around money, the importance of developing a positive relationship with wealth and the constant motivation to work for yourself and not for others. That’s perhaps the reason why it has stood the test of time. 

Of course, Rich Dad Poor Dad encourages you to save your money, but it focuses more on building wealth through investing. For Robert Kiyosaki, an American businessman, the key to living a healthy financial life is prioritizing your financial education, increasing your “financial IQ” and investing in assets.

By contrasting two different financial mindsets of the “Poor Dad” and the “Rich Dad,” he shares enlightening concepts on money management and encourages people to become wealthier.

6. The Richest Man in Babylon

By George S. Clason

Talk about a classic! The Richest Man in Babylon was written in 1926, but the financial advice it provides remains relevant to this day. George S. Clason may not have known what a millennial was, but he knew how to create a timeless narrative. 

With beautiful storytelling, the author presents the fundamental principles of personal finance through a collection of parables set 4,000 years ago in ancient Babylon. Each chapter introduces a parable that illustrates a specific financial lesson. 

Apart from dealing with saving and investing, The Richest Man in Babylon focuses on the importance of financial discipline, a concept portrayed beautifully through the parables.

We believe this book’s core lessons transcend historical context, making it a true classic in the world of finance.

7. Budgeting 101

By Michele Cagan, CPA

Budgeting 101 is essentially a crash course in budgeting basics. Michele Cagan, a certified public accountant, offers her insights into personal finances and focuses on creating and sticking to a budget as well as minimizing taxes.

In true 101 series fashion, Budgeting 101 is an easy-to-understand guide divided into short sections (“divide and conquer,” they say, right?). It’s helpful, simple and concise. The goal, the book explains, is to achieve financial security , build lasting wealth and, of course, get rid of financial anxiety in the process!

Your Financial Future Is Not A Gamble!

As Francis Bacon once said, “Knowledge is power.” Financial literacy is a fundamental skill that can shape a considerable portion of your life. You don’t have to become an expert on finances, but we recommend you learn the basics.

The books in this article aim to make that process fun. Who said learning about finances has to be a dull task? From understanding budgeting to exploring investment strategies, the pages of these books are filled with step-by-step guides and practical advice to help you take control of your finances and not perish in the process.

We strongly encourage you to explore these financial literacy books to take control of your finances with confidence.

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10 of the best financial education books that wealthy people read.

You don’t just need money to build an empire, you need great knowledge, usually from   financial education books that will feed you with nuggets of wisdom needed to amass, maintain and increase your wealth.

There are a number of financial education books that have built a great reputation over the years for providing insightful and mind-opening education that has changed the lives of many people. Finding a book that answers the financial questions that have remained a puzzle in your quest for success is a life-changing experience.

Here is a collection of some of the best financial education books that have shaped the lives of some of the newest wealthy individuals across the globe and inspired them to take up challenges that have made them remarkably successful.

The Best Financial Education Books:

1 . rich dad, poor dad.

In this book, Robert Kiyosaki will show you the difference between a wealthy man and a poor man and the decisions that define each one of them. Robert Kiyosaki continues these insights in a series of Rich Dad books that you will find useful in financial education such as Unfair Advantage and Rich Dad’s Cash Flow Quadrant.

2 . The Millionaire Next Door

According to the book, the rich budget, live below their means and allow their grown-up children success independently. This will show you how to solve the investing equation on saving and earning money. Perhaps you are always trying to figure out the nature of things that go through the brain of a millionaire .

3 . The Intelligent Investor

4 . street smarts, 5 . think and grow rich, 6 . one up on wall street, 7 . the little book of common sense investing, 8 . do what you love and the money will follow, 9 . secrets of the millionaire mind, 10 . the money book for the young, fabulous and broke.

Suze Orman saw the niche in young people who had just left college without any form of financial literacy and wrote a financial education book to enlighten them on the steps to making money .

Thank you for checking out our list of the best financial education books.

Please leave a comment and let us know of any financial education books that you have read lately that are worth noting on this list and we will be happy to mention them in an updated version of this post.

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10 Best Books on Financial Literacy for Everyone

Financial literacy is the foundation of a healthy financial life. Understanding how money works is essential for achieving financial freedom and building wealth. The good news is that anyone can improve their financial literacy, regardless of their background or income level. In this article, we’ll explore the top books on financial literacy that are accessible and valuable for everyone.

Why Financial Literacy Matters

Without financial literacy, it’s easy to fall into debt, make poor investment decisions, and struggle financially. Learning how to manage your money effectively gives you the tools to make informed decisions and take control of your financial future. Financial literacy is not just about knowing how to create a budget or save money. It’s about understanding how money works in our complex world.

Financial literacy is a critical life skill that everyone should possess. It helps you navigate the complex financial landscape and make informed decisions about your money. Whether you’re just starting out in your career or planning for retirement, financial literacy is essential for achieving your goals.

The Importance of Financial Education

Financial education is one of the most important investments you can make in yourself. It helps you build a strong foundation for your personal finance journey and empowers you to make informed decisions. A solid financial education allows you to set financial goals, create a budget, save and invest wisely, and manage debt effectively.

Financial education is not just for adults. It’s important to start teaching children about money management from a young age. By teaching kids about money, you can help them develop healthy financial habits that will last a lifetime.

Moreover, financial education is not just for individuals. Employers can also benefit from providing financial education to their employees. By helping employees become more financially literate, employers can increase productivity, reduce absenteeism, and improve overall job satisfaction.

The benefits of financial education extend beyond individual well-being. When more people are financially literate, it helps boost the economy and reduce income inequality.

The Benefits of Being Financially Literate

Being financially literate has numerous benefits. For starters, it helps you avoid making costly mistakes, such as taking on high-interest consumer debt or falling for investment scams.

Financial literacy also helps you make informed decisions about your money. From choosing the right credit card to investing in the stock market, understanding how money works gives you the confidence to make smart choices.

Furthermore, financial literacy can help you achieve your financial goals. Whether you’re saving for a down payment on a house, planning for retirement, or paying off debt, financial literacy gives you the tools to succeed.

How Financial Literacy Empowers Individuals

Financial literacy empowers individuals to take control of their financial lives. By understanding how to manage money effectively, you can achieve financial freedom, build wealth, and create a better future for yourself and your family.

Moreover, financial literacy can help you make a positive impact on your community. By making informed decisions about your money, you can support local businesses, invest in your community, and help create jobs.

Financial literacy is essential for everyone, regardless of age, income level, or background. It’s never too late to start learning and improving your financial literacy, and the best place to start is with a great book. So go ahead, pick up a book on personal finance, and start your journey to financial freedom today!

Top 10 Books for Financial Literacy

Here are the top 10 books on financial literacy that are accessible and valuable for everyone:

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

Rich Dad Poor Dad is a classic book on financial literacy that challenges conventional thinking about money. It offers a unique perspective on building wealth and financial freedom and teaches readers how to think like an investor.

The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

The Total Money Makeover is a practical guide to getting out of debt, building an emergency fund, and starting to invest. Dave Ramsey’s seven-step plan has helped millions of people achieve financial freedom .

The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko

The Millionaire Next Door is a fascinating study of the habits and characteristics of millionaires in America. It offers insights into how anyone can build wealth and achieve financial success.

Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez

Your Money or Your Life is a groundbreaking book that challenges the idea that money equals happiness. It offers a step-by-step program for financial independence and a more meaningful life.

The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason

The Richest Man in Babylon is a timeless classic that offers practical advice on personal finance. It uses parables set in ancient Babylon to teach readers the principles of wealth building.

The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach

The Automatic Millionaire is a simple yet powerful book that teaches readers how to automate their finances and build wealth over time. It offers practical advice on saving, investing, and achieving financial freedom.

The Simple Path to Wealth by J.L. Collins

The Simple Path to Wealth is a straightforward guide to investing in the stock market. It advocates for a low-cost, passive investing approach and teaches readers how to achieve financial independence through smart investing.

The Index Card by Helaine Olen and Harold Pollack

The Index Card is a quick and easy guide to personal finance that fits on a single index card. It offers essential financial advice for people at all stages of life and income levels.

Broke Millennial by Erin Lowry

Broke Millennial is a fun and practical guide to personal finance aimed at millennials. It offers tips on creating a budget, saving money, and investing for the future.

The Behavior Gap by Carl Richards

The Behavior Gap is a thought-provoking book that examines the psychology of money and investing. It shows how our emotions and behavior can influence our financial decisions and offers practical advice for avoiding common pitfalls.

These books offer valuable insights into personal finance and financial literacy. Whether you’re just starting your financial journey or looking to improve your knowledge, these books are an excellent place to start.

Financial literacy is essential for achieving financial freedom and building wealth. Learning how to manage your money effectively gives you the tools to make informed decisions and take control of your financial future. The 10 books on financial literacy listed in this article offer practical advice, unique perspectives, and valuable insights into personal finance. Reading these books can help you develop a solid foundation for your financial journey and achieve your financial goals.

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There’s much more to the world of finance than figures on a screen, as these non-fiction finance books reveal..

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that finance is just a numbers game, but those numbers represent hugely important things – from commodities that make the world go round, to people’s deep-seated hopes and dreams. The best finance books are those that accessibly explain subjects shrouded in often self-serving industry jargon, revealing fascinating and unseen truths about the way the world works.

Books about money can be windows into an overlooked past as well as snapshots of a possible future – sharing everything from ideas that can change the world to frauds that have brought whole nations to their knees. Whether it’s a personal finance book or a technical manual, there’s something for everyone – because finance affects us all. These finance books can help you make a success of money no matter your circumstances.

The Psychology of Money

By morgan housel.

“The best book about money ever written,” according to Diary of a CEO ’s Steven Bartlett, and who are we to argue? This global sensation was published in 2020 and has gone on to sell over four million copies. It’s easy to see why: Housel is a consummate story-teller, and these are stories that will change how you think about wealth, greed and happiness forever. Far from being mere cash, money is perhaps the ultimate human construct – and conundrum – that we face.

Same as Ever

Morgan Housel’s follow-up to The Psychology of Money does not disappoint. Everyone wants to predict the future, but everyone’s bad at it. That’s because the focus is usually on what will change – billions are spent every year trying to forecast it – yet no one can know for sure. However, there’s a small number of things that never change, and identifying them can give you a reliable advantage – not just in investing, but in business, life and more. In Same as Ever , international bestselling author Morgan Housel reveals them through twenty-three unforgettable stories.

The Event-Driven Edge in Investing

By asif suria.

Every investor seeks an edge to outperform the market. One such edge, once exclusive to institutional investors, lies in event-driven investing strategies. These strategies exploit corporate events like mergers, acquisitions, stock buybacks, and spin-offs to affect stock prices. The Event-Driven Edge in Investing explains how to use merger arbitrage for better risk-adjusted returns than bonds, follow insider actions for new investment ideas, track stock buybacks to gauge company value alignment, and leverage spin-offs to unlock value in either the spin-off or the parent company. With Asif Suria's guidance, you too can identify and profit from the event-driven edge in investing.

The World's Simplest Guide to the Stock Market

By edward w. ryan.

The World’s Simplest Guide to the Stock Market offers a clear and concise crash course on stock market essentials. Written in plain language, it answers key questions such as: what is a company, how do companies grow and raise money, and how do they go public? What is a stock, what causes stock prices to move, and what do investors experience when owning a stock? Author Edward W. Ryan uses his experience as a personal investor and industry professional to bring these complex topics to life. Perfect for beginners or those needing a refresher, this book is the ideal starting point for understanding stocks and the stock market.

Mastering the Mental Game of Trading

By steven goldstein.

Renowned trading performance coach Steven Goldstein shares his insights and experiences to help traders succeed in the markets. Through personal anecdotes and real-life trader stories, Goldstein delves into the psychological aspects of trading, revealing how attitudes and misconceptions can hinder potential. He introduces the Performance Process Cycle, a powerful model that helps traders overcome emotions and biases, improve self-awareness, and understand their interactions with markets and uncertainty. Goldstein's guidance inspires traders to reflect on their behaviors, beliefs, and actions as they strive to master the mental game of trading.

You Weren’t Supposed to See That

By joshua m. brown.

There are secret ways of seeing the world of finance that every investor should know. Josh Brown, the original Wall Street blogger, CNBC star, and CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management, shares critical overlooked truths that can shift the balance from failure to success. Drawing on fifteen years of his acclaimed blog, The Reformed Broker, he revisits and expands upon his most popular writings. As he does so, he helps you to discover all the most important, surprising, and sometimes painfully true secrets of finance, investing, and Wall Street that you need to know to thrive today.

The Secret Wealth Advantage

By akhil patel.

The Secret Wealth Advantage is a strategic guide to making astute financial decisions by understanding the economic cycle that influences periods of boom and bust. Akhil Patel uses historical data and engaging anecdotes to explain the cycle’s dynamics, its impact on the economy, and why it often goes unnoticed. More than just theoretical insight, Patel provides practical advice for navigating each phase of the cycle, allowing readers to invest wisely, preserve wealth during downturns, and master what can seem like a chaotic financial world.

by Jared Dillian

There are books that make personal finance a nightmare of self-denial and checklists. Then there’s No Worries , a compulsively readable guide to living a stress-free financial life by simply getting a small number of things right, enabling you to flourish no matter your situation. This is the ultimate book for doing well with money for those who don’t want to spend their lives thinking about it.

The Art of Execution

By lee freeman-shor.

Over seven years, Lee Freeman-Shor allocated twenty-five to 150 million dollars to forty-five of the world’s top investors, on the condition that they only invest in their ten best ideas. Surprisingly, despite their expertise, most of these ideas failed to make money, with a coin toss proving a more effective decision-maker. Yet many of these investors still profited significantly. How? The Art of Execution reveals a crucial, often overlooked aspect of investing. Through real-life data, case studies, and stories from Freeman-Shor’s perspective as their fund manager, readers learn the secret habits that make or break investment success.

The 4-Hour Workweek

By tim ferriss.

The 4-Hour Workweek is the book that put passive income, personal outsourcing and remote work on the map. Published in a world where a 9–5 glued to your desk in an office seemed inescapable, Tim Ferris redefined the possibilities – and did so without the gimmicks or empty promises that so often cloud this topic. By following the blueprints in this practical and approachable book, you can learn how to live more and work less right now, instead of waiting decades until retirement. While some of the resources have inevitably dated since publication, the principles remain timeless – and the outcomes empowering.

The Naked Trader

By robbie burns.

For a refreshingly straightforward guide to stock market investing, look no further than The Naked Trader by Robbie Burns, one of the UK’s most popular financial writers (and the only one to have turned a few thousand pounds into £3m largely while trading in his pyjamas). Written in plain language and peppered with real-life examples, this book demystifies the often complex world of buying and selling shares for a living. It shows how anyone can do it – and enjoy a life of financial independence – without spending all day glued to a screen. The Naked Trader’s Book of Trading Strategies is a great companion book for those inspired by Robbie Burns.

Liar’s Poker

By michael lewis.

The book that launched a thousand finance memoirs, Michael Lewis’s first work as an author is still one of the best of its kind. An eye-opening journey through the chaotic world of 1980s Wall Street, from the intense dynamics of the trading floor to shifts in global finance, Lewis’s storytelling paints an unforgettable picture of greed, ambition, and economic change. The audio version is produced by Malcolm Gladwell’s innovative audio production company, Pushkin Industries – augmented with archival clips, original score and sound effects, as well as a bonus podcast episode.

Best Loser Wins

By tom hougaard.

Tom Hougaard is a renowned high-stakes trader known for turning £25,000 into over £1m in a year by trading the financial markets. Unlike typical trading books focusing on strategies and money management, this book offers a rare glimpse inside a trader’s mind. The result is fresh, honest, vulnerable – and deeply informative. Hougaard argues that success in trading isn’t just about technical knowledge but understanding, and managing, the psychological impact of the markets.

Billion Dollar Whale

By tom wright and bradley hope.

Billion Dollar Whale is the story of the astonishing fraud committed by Jho Low, a Wharton School graduate, who stole billions of dollars from a Malaysian investment fund, leaving the global financial system reeling. This pacy narrative recounts Low’s audacious scheme and the uses he put the stolen funds to – including financing The Wolf of Wall Street (of all films), opulent parties, and luxury real estate. Today, Low remains an international fugitive, evading charges in multiple countries, while investigations continue.

Iceland’s Secret

By jared bibler.

You don’t need a murder to make a thrilling piece of Nordic noir. This true story of the world’s biggest con – leading to a financial collapse the equivalent of three Enrons (the infamous US energy company which filed for the then largest ever bankruptcy in history in 2001 after accounting irregularities) – is almost impossible to believe. Jared Bibler moved from the US to Iceland in the 2000s, just in time to live through the country's financial meltdown in 2008. His own finances wiped out along with hundreds of thousands of fellow Icelanders, he landed a new role: as lead investigator into the dizzying crimes that had brought it about. His work led to Iceland being the only country to jail the CEOs of its major banks in the wake of the global financial crisis.

Just Keep Buying

By nick maggiulli.

Renowned finance blogger Nick Maggiulli tackles crucial financial questions with a data-driven approach in Just Keep Buying . This debut book is an intellectually thrilling debunking of many traditional beliefs in personal finance, offering evidence-based strategies for building wealth. Find out why saving less could be more effective, why you should never wait for market dips, and how you can actually thrive in market crashes – and much more.

Number Go Up

By zeke faux.

A darkly comic and revelatory account of the 2021 crypto boom, Bloomberg reporter Zeke Faux’s journey takes him from luxury parties in the Bahamas to uncovering a crypto-fuelled crime ring in Cambodia. The book brilliantly blends humour with detailed reporting, providing a captivating narrative on the rise and fall of a $3 trillion illusion. And if this hasn’t convinced you, it’s safe to say Number Go Up boasts perhaps the best opening two sentences to a finance book of all time – you’ll have to read it to find out.

The Essays of Warren Buffett

By warren buffett.

If you want to understand Warren Buffett’s approach to business and investing, this is what you need to read – with the man himself recommending it as the most comprehensive survey of his methods and thinking. A thorough and accessible compilation of insights over multiple decades of outperformance – packed with the wisdom and turns of phrase that led to him being acclaimed by many as the “Sage of Omaha” (the Nebraska city where Buffett and his company, Berkshire Hathaway, are based).

Poor Charlie’s Almanack

By charles t. munger.

Poor Charlie’s Almanack is the selected wisdom of investor and businessman Warren Buffett’s sharp-witted vice chairman, the late Charlie Munger. Edited by Peter D. Kaufman, this book shares Munger’s profound knowledge across multiple disciplines, including finance, business, history and philosophy. It’s not just an investment guide; it’s a comprehensive manual on ethical living, rational decision-making, and continuous learning.

The Simple Path to Wealth

By jl collins.

A beloved modern classic, The Simple Path to Wealth started as letters from financial expert and author, JL Collins, to his daughter, explaining the remarkably simple – but almost universally overlooked – ways she could ensure a life of financial freedom. These are simple steps anyone can take that will equip them to work and live on their own terms at any time, and in any place – most people just don’t know about them. The letters became a blog, the blog became a book, and over half a million copies later it continues to fascinate readers and change lives.

Pathfinders

The perfect pairing with his first book, The Simple Path to Wealth , Pathfinders is JL Collins’s collection of the most inspiring and interesting stories of his readers pursuing (and achieving) financial independence. From a restaurant employee on minimum wage who will be able to retire before he turns 45, to two teachers who never made a six-figure salary combined but retired as millionaires in their 30s – these stories are proof it can be done, and practical help for you at any stage on your own financial journey.

Free Capital

By guy thomas.

There are lots of books that explain how experts make millions investing in stocks and shares. Free Capital reveals a more elusive and intriguing set of subjects: ordinary private investors who have built colossal fortunes entirely on their own, including some within a tax-free ISA. Often speaking anonymously, Thomas gained unique access to these investors – and shares their stories and strategies in real depth in Free Capital .

Fooled by Randomness

By nassim nicholas taleb.

Can you distinguish skill from luck? Nassim Taleb’s engaging first book investigates this with the vivid and deeply read style that has become his trademark. A veteran trader and risk expert, Taleb upends nearly every conventional belief about talent and chance in an intellectual tour de force, through fascinating stories and a cast of engaging characters from Odysseus to George Soros.

Unknown Market Wizards

By jack d. schwager.

Jack D. Schwager’s Market Wizards books are legendary, and Unknown Market Wizards, the last entry is the series, is no different Instead of interviewing hedge fund and Wall Street greats as he does in previous works, Schwager introduces the reader to a motley collection of traders delivering substantial returns in total obscurity: the Unknown Market Wizards. The new paperback edition also turns the tables for the first time, as Jack is interviewed in Market Wizards -style himself. This book should be on every trader’s shelf.

The Great Depression: A Diary

By benjamin roth.

Discovered and published by his son in 2010, this account of life in an industrial town in Ohio during the Great Depression is “the best economics book ever written”, according to Morgan Housel, the international bestselling author of The Psychology of Money . Written as he experienced the tumultuous events following the 1929 stock market crash, young lawyer Benjamin Roth provides a uniquely personal perspective on a dramatic period of financial history. The result is not just a historical document but something that will resonate with all readers.

Investing for Growth

By terry smith.

Superstar fund manager Terry Smith is a boxer in his spare time and his prose in this collection of his best investment writing holds no punches, with fighting words on every page and flashes of sardonic humour. Best of all, it offers the kind of clear thinking and logical approach to analysing companies that makes you feel smarter after reading it. For Smith, what matters is whether companies can generate cash and do useful things with it. The more cash, and the more useful the things, the more interested you should be.

The Black Girl’s Guide to Financial Freedom

By paris woods.

Paris Wood’s groundbreaking book provides practical strategies for building generational wealth, avoiding financial pitfalls, pursuing education debt-free, and achieving early financial independence. With real-life stories – such as the extreme saver who retired at 30, the woman who worked 25 years in the wrong career, and how the author herself used the tools she shares in the book to create "job freedom" when she was laid off  – and clear advice, it’s tailored for Black women at any stage, from young professionals to those seeking new, empowering financial paths.

How to Think About Money

By jonathan clements.

Ever wanted to lead a more prosperous, worry-free financial life? Jonathan Clements argues that there are five crucial ideas that will get anyone there, and How to Think About Money is his guide to them. Lauded by both readers and investment icons like Jack Bogle, this book will unlock a lifetime of smarter financial choices with a single afternoon of reading.

The Zurich Axioms

By max gunther.

Legendary financial journalist Max Gunther wrote a number of classic finance books in the 1960s and 70s. This one reveals the principles of financial success relied upon by generations of super-rich Swiss speculators. These axioms were handed down to Gunther by his father, the latest in a long line of investors. Ultimately, it’s a guide to embracing risk intelligently – with applications not just to investment but business, life and love.

The Bond King

By mary childs.

How did Bill Gross – the “Bond King” of this book’s title, who at one time presided over a financial empire of $300bn – attain his crown? As with any struggle for a throne, the story isn’t always pretty, but it is always engrossing. Starting as a card-counting gambler in Vegas with just $200, Gross’s story is one of transformation and revolution – both personal and in the once-staid bond market. Mary Childs’s account of his journey is an important chronicle of the making of the modern financial world.

Engines That Move Markets

By alasdair nairn.

Engines That Move Markets is a captivating journey through history that unravels the cyclical nature of technological revolutions, from electric lighting to the internet. It highlights how initial scepticism often evolves into investor enthusiasm, leading to market booms and eventual busts. Investment partner Alasdair Nairn’s research provides invaluable lessons for evaluating emerging tech sectors and firms, as well as memorable and surprising stories from the forgotten pages of financial history.

Reminiscences of a Stock Operator

By edwin lefèvre.

First published in 1923, this lightly fictionalised account of legendary trader Jesse Livermore’s life and work is an enduring classic. Thanks to its timeless insights into market psychology, it remains as relevant today as a century ago – even though its evocative world of New York ‘bucket shops’ and ticker tape has vanished forever. Livermore’s trading career did not end happily – but anyone can learn from his story to approach the markets with the right mindset.

The Allocator’s Edge

By phil huber.

As traditional investment portfolios face new challenges, this book highlights the growing importance of spreading investments across multiple areas like private equity, hedge funds, and digital assets. Huber provides a uniquely detailed analysis of these alternatives, their risks, returns, and integration into portfolios that will be able to stand the test of time as technology and innovation transform both financial markets and the world around us.

The Intelligent Fund Investor

By joe wiggins.

Investing in funds is popular with those who want to build the value of their savings towards retirement or another goal. But sadly many of these investors give in to sloppy thinking, biases and the temptation to skimp on research. Joe Wiggins’s book shows not only how to overcome such pitfalls, but how to enjoy the process – and profit handsomely from the results. Discover why you should fear (not seek) smooth fund performance, why the best stories tend to lead to the worst investments, and why past performance is not only no guide to the future but the least effective way to make investing decisions.

The Geometry of Wealth

By brian portnoy.

The relationship between money and happiness is famously chequered. This book brings a vital and deeply researched new take on the question of whether one can buy the other, driven by the conviction that true wealth – financial and emotional – lies within reach of most of us, as long as we have the right framework.

My Money Journey

The road to financial independence doesn’t have to look the same for everyone. This diverse collection of 30 individual journeys to wealth and freedom shows the varied yet achievable routes that can get you there – from the fierce frugality of Kristine, who started again in her 40s after a divorce, to the slow and steady of Greg, who turned a childhood habit of saving into a lifetime of prudence and prosperity. Compiled by former Wall Street Journal columnist Jonathan Clements, the results are both surprising and encouraging.

Simple But Not Easy

By richard oldfield.

How many finance books start with a detailed list of the author’s investment mistakes? Described by the author as partly autobiographical and heavily biased – in other words, enjoyably candid and opinionated –, this book by fund manager Richard Oldfield is a terrific read. Come for the self-effacing humour, stay for the deep insights on the true nature of investment success, and take away learnings on what you can (and can’t) do to put the odds in your favour.

The Crypto Trader

By glen goodman.

The world of crypto can seem like a financial Wild West (see Number Go Up elsewhere on this list). But as with any asset, there have always been – and always will be – ways of making money consistently that don’t rely on random speculation or madcap schemes. In this insider’s view of successful cryptocurrency trading, Glen Goodman shares how to trade cryptocurrencies using time-tested and risk-controlled methods taken from the world of traditional trading – and demonstrated by years of his own highly profitable real-life crypto trades.

The Laws of Wealth

By daniel crosby.

In this landmark book, behavioural finance expert Dr. Daniel Crosby uses a lifetime of research and data to distil the practical rules of behaviour that anyone can follow to enjoy better results as an investor. Discover the behavioural foundations of wise investing, simple strategies for mitigating behavioural risks, and how to harness human nature for effective equity investing.

by Iona Bain

Things haven’t been easy when it comes to finances for young people – low wages, high housing costs, the economic impact of Covid-19, and that’s just to start. In Own It! , Iona Bain – BBC’s Morning Live residential financial expert, and one of the top millennial voices on money – helps readers tackle all these issues and more, showing how any young person can establish wealth and transform their life starting with nothing, beginning today.

The Smartest Guys in the Room

By bethany mclean and peter elkind.

How did an energy firm admired by investors and feared by rivals become a byword for fraud and scandal? The tipping point for the firm in question, Enron, was a Fortune article by Bethany McLean, questioning its earnings methods. What followed was a rapid descent into one of the largest bankruptcies in US history, shattering American confidence in a system that enriched executives while devastating small investors. McLean returns here in book form – along with co-author Peter Elkind – to tell the unbelievable true story in full.

Capital Allocators

By ted seides.

There is a hidden world in investing: the realm of the chief investment officer. These influential figures – managing trillions in assets on behalf of endowments, pensions, family offices, and more – largely operate out of the public eye. This book provides unprecedented insight into their practices, skills, decision-making frameworks, and portfolio management strategies.

How I Invest My Money

By joshua m. brown and brian portnoy.

How I Invest My Money is a collection of essays offering rare insight into the personal investment strategies of twenty-five financial experts, including portfolio managers, financial advisors, and venture capitalists. These professionals share how their backgrounds, families, and life struggles influence their financial decisions, highlighting the deep connection between money and values. Enhanced with illustrations by Carl Richards, it not only provides financial guidance but encourages readers to reflect on how money aligns with their own life goals and values.

The Complete Financial History of Berkshire Hathaway

By adam mead.

Berkshire Hathaway is the conglomerate run by Warren Buffett and the late Charlie Munger, with a toe in everything from insurance to boxed chocolates, as well as significant stakes in companies such as Apple and Coca-Cola. . I’s much more than a holding company and its history has lots to teach any investor or business leader. This weighty tome from Adam Mead tells the complete story, starting from its early days in the textile industry up to the present day, drawing on Warren Buffett's letters, annual reports, SEC filings, and meeting transcripts, along with subsidiary financials. A business epic.

Quality Investing

By lawrence a. cunningham, torkell t. eide and patrick hargreaves.

Is extraordinary performance in investing sustainable? Only if you can identify companies with advantages that do not decay over time – but strengthen. That possibility lies at the heart of this impressively researched book from investors at the renowned AKO Capital, the long-term-minded investment firm founded by two Norwegian investors in 2005 (one of whom recently moved to manage the Norwegian Government Pension Fund, the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world). The book reveals the traits that show a company’s potential for enduring success, using real-life case studies with a crispness and depth that has drawn praise from readers and professionals alike.

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• Personal Finance
• Financial Literacy

The Ultimate Guide to Financial Literacy for Adults

Learn the skills now that you need for a more financially secure life

• Search Search Please fill out this field.

What Is Financial Literacy?

Personal finance basics.

• Bank Accounts
• Credit Cards
• How to Start Investing

The Bottom Line

Caleb has been the Editor-in-Chief of Investopedia since 2016. He is an award-winning media executive with more than 20 years of experience in business news, digital publishing, and documentaries. Caleb is the on the Board of Governors and Executive Committee of SABEW (Society for Advancing Business Editing & Writing), and his awards include a Peabody, EPPY, SABEW Best in Business, and two Emmy nominations.

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We know that the earlier you learn the basics of how money works, the more confident and successful you’ll be with your finances later in life. It’s never too late to start learning, but it pays to have a head start. The first steps into the world of money start with education.

Banking, budgeting, saving, credit, debt, and investing are the pillars that support most of the financial decisions that we’ll make in our lives. At Investopedia, we have more than 36,000 articles, terms, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), and videos that explore these topics. We’ve spent 25 years building and improving our resources to help you make smart financial and investing decisions.

This guide is a great place to start, and today is a great day to do it. Let’s begin with financial literacy —what it is and how it can improve your life.

Key Takeaways

• Financial literacy is the ability to understand and make use of a variety of financial skills.
• Those with higher levels of financial literacy are more likely to spend less income, create an emergency fund, and open a retirement account than those with lower levels.
• Some of the basics of financial literacy and its practical application in everyday life include banking, budgeting, handling debt and credit, and investing.

Financial literacy is the ability to understand and make use of a variety of financial skills, including personal financial management, budgeting, and investing. It also means comprehending certain financial principles and concepts, such as the time value of money , compound interest , managing debt, and financial planning.

Achieving financial literacy can help individuals to avoid making poor financial decisions. It can help them become self-sufficient and achieve financial stability. Key steps to attaining financial literacy include learning how to create a budget, track spending, pay off debt, and plan for retirement.

Educating yourself on these topics also involves learning how money works, setting and achieving financial goals, becoming aware of unethical/discriminatory financial practices, and managing financial challenges that life throws your way.

The Importance of Financial Literacy

In its National Financial Capability Study the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) found that Americans with higher levels of financial literacy were more likely to make ends meet, spend less of their income, create a three-month emergency fund, and open a retirement account than those with lower financial literacy.

Making informed financial decisions is more important than ever. Take retirement planning. Many workers once relied on pension plans to fund their retirement lives, with the financial burden and decision-making for pension funds borne by the companies or governments that sponsored them.

Today, few workers get pensions; instead, some are offered the option of participating in a 401(k) plan . This involves decisions that employees themselves have to make about contribution levels and investment choices. Even contributing to a 401(k) may not be enough to afford a comfortable retirement. And those without employer options need to actively seek out and open individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and other tax-advantaged retirement accounts .

Add to this people’s increasing life spans (leading to longer retirements), Social Security benefits that barely support basic survival, complicated health or other insurance options, more complex savings and investment instruments to select from—and a plethora of choices from banks, credit unions, brokerage firms, credit card companies, and more.

It’s clear that financial literacy is a must for making thoughtful and informed decisions, avoiding unnecessary levels of debt, helping family members through these complex decisions, and having adequate income in retirement.

Personal finance is where financial literacy translates into individual financial decision-making. How do you manage your money? Which savings and investment vehicles are you using? Personal finance is about making and meeting your financial goals, whether you want to own a home, help other members of your family, save for your children’s college education, support causes that you care about, plan for retirement, or anything else.

Among other topics, it encompasses banking, budgeting, handling debt and credit, and investing. Let’s take a look at these basics to get you started.

Introduction to Bank Accounts

A bank account is typically the first financial account that you’ll open. Bank accounts can hold and build the money you'll need for major purchases and life events. Here’s some background on bank accounts and why they are step one in creating a stable financial future.

Why Do I Need a Bank Account?

Though the majority of Americans do have bank accounts, 6% of households in the United States still don’t have one. Why is it so important to open a bank account? Because it’s safer than holding cash. Assets held in a bank are harder to steal, and in the U.S., they’re generally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) . That means you should always have access to your cash, even if every customer decides to withdraw their money at the same time.

Many financial transactions require you to have a bank account to:

• Use a debit or credit card
• Use payment apps like Venmo or PayPal
• Write a check
• Buy or rent a home
• Receive your paycheck from your employer
• Earn interest on your money

Online vs. Brick-and-Mortar Banks

When you think of a bank, you probably picture a building. This is called a brick-and-mortar bank. Many brick-and-mortar banks also allow you to open accounts and manage your money online.

Some banks are only online and have no physical buildings. These banks typically offer the same services as brick-and-mortar banks, aside from the ability to visit them in person.

Which Type of Bank Can I Use?

Retail banks : This is the most common type of bank at which people have accounts. Retail banks are for-profit companies that offer checking and savings accounts, loans, credit cards, and insurance. Retail banks can have physical, in-person buildings that you can visit or they can be online only. Most offer both options. Banks’ online technology tends to be advanced, and they often have more locations and ATMs nationwide than credit unions do.

Credit unions : Credit unions provide savings and checking accounts, issue loans, and offer other financial products, just like banks do. However, they are not-for-profit organizations owned by their members. Credit unions tend to have lower fees and better interest rates on savings accounts and loans. Credit unions are sometimes known for providing more personalized customer service, though they usually have far fewer branches and ATMs.

Assets held in a credit union are insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) , which is equivalent to the FDIC for banks.

What Types of Bank Accounts Can I Open?

There are three main types of bank accounts that the average person may want to open:

1. Savings account : A savings account is an interest-bearing deposit account held at a bank or other financial institution. Savings accounts typically pay a low interest rate, but their safety and reliability make them a sensible option for saving available cash for short-term needs.

They may have some legal limitations on how often you can withdraw money . However, they’re generally very flexible so they’re ideal for building an emergency fund, saving for a short-term goal like buying a car or going on vacation, or simply storing extra cash that you don’t need in your checking account.

2. Checking account : A checking account is also a deposit account at a bank or other financial institution that allows you to make deposits and withdrawals. Checking accounts are very liquid, meaning that they allow numerous withdrawals per month (as opposed to less liquid savings or investment accounts) though they earn little to no interest.

Money can be deposited at banks and ATMs, through direct deposit, or through another type of electronic transfer. Account holders can withdraw funds via banks and ATMs, by writing checks, or using debit cards linked to their accounts.

You may be able to find a checking account with no fees. Others have monthly and other charges (such as for overdrafts or using an out-of-network ATM) based on, for example, how much you keep in the account or whether there’s a direct deposit paycheck or automatic withdrawal mortgage payment connected to the account.

Lifeline and  second-chance accounts , available at some banks, can help those who have difficulty qualifying for a traditional checking account.

3. High-yield savings account : A high-yield savings account usually pays a much higher rate of interest than a standard savings account. The tradeoff for earning more interest on your money is that high-yield accounts tend to require bigger initial deposits, larger minimum balances, and higher fees.

You might be able to open a high-yield savings account at your current bank, but online banks tend to have the highest interest rates.

What’s an Emergency Fund?

An emergency fund is not a specific type of bank account but can be any source of cash that you’ve saved to help you handle financial hardships like job losses, medical bills, or car repairs. Here's how they work:

• Most people use a separate savings account for their emergency savings.
• The account should eventually total enough to cover at least three to six months’ worth of expenses.
• Emergency fund money should be off-limits for paying regular expenses.

Introduction to Credit Cards

You know them as the plastic cards that (almost) everyone carries in their wallets. Credit cards are accounts that let you borrow money from the credit card issuer and pay it back over time. For every month that you don’t pay back the money in full, you’ll be charged interest on your remaining balance . Note that some credit cards, called charge cards , require you to pay your balance in full each month. However, these are less common.

What’s the Difference Between Credit and Debit Cards?

Here is the difference :

Debit cards take money directly out of your checking account. You can’t borrow money with debit cards, which means that you can’t spend more cash than you have in the bank. And debit cards don’t help you to build a credit history and credit rating .

Credit cards allow you to borrow money and do not pull cash from your bank account. This can be helpful for large, unexpected purchases. But carrying a balance every month—not paying back in full the money that you borrowed—means that you’ll owe interest to the credit card issuer. In fact, as of Q1 2024, Americans owed $1.12 trillion in credit card debt. So be very careful about spending more money than you have, because debt can build up quickly and become difficult to pay off.

On the other hand, using a credit card judiciously and paying your credit card bills on time helps you establish a credit history and a good credit rating. It’s important to build a good credit rating not only to qualify for the best credit cards but also because you will get more favorable interest rates on car loans, personal loans, and mortgages.

What Is APR?

APR stands for annual percentage rate. This is the amount of interest that you’ll owe the credit card issuer on any unpaid balance. You’ll want to pay close attention to this number when you apply for a credit card. A higher number can cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars if you carry a large balance over time. The median APR today is nearly 25% , but your rate may be higher if you have bad credit . Interest rates also tend to vary by the type of credit card.

Which Credit Card Should I Choose?

Credit scores have a big impact on your odds of getting approved for a credit card. Understanding what range your score falls into can help you narrow the options as you decide on the cards for which you may apply. Beyond your credit score, you’ll also need to decide which perks best suit your lifestyle and spending habits.

If you’ve never had a credit card before, or if you have bad credit, you’ll likely need to apply for either a secured credit card or a subprime credit card . By using one of these and paying back on time, you can raise your credit score and earn the right to credit at better rates.

If you have a fair to good credit score, you can choose from a variety of credit card types, such as:

• Travel rewards cards : These credit cards offer points redeemable for travel—including flights, hotels, and rental cars—with each dollar you spend.
• Cash-back cards : If you don’t travel often—or don’t want to deal with converting points into real-life perks—a cash-back card might be the best fit for you. Every month, you’ll receive a small portion of your spending back, in cash or as a credit to your statement.
• Balance transfer cards : If you have balances on other cards with high interest rates, transferring your balance to a lower-rate credit card could save you money, help you pay off balances, and help improve your credit score.
• Low- or No-APR cards : If you routinely carry a balance from month to month, switching to a credit card with a low or no APR could save you hundreds of dollars per year in interest payments.

Be aware of your protections under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) . Research credit opportunities and available interest rates, and be sure that you are offered the best rates for your particular credit history and financial situation.

How to Create a Budget

Creating a budget is one of the simplest and most effective ways to control your spending, saving, and investing. You can’t begin to improve your financial health if you don’t know where your money is going, so start tracking your expenses against your income. Then set clear goals.

One budget template that helps individuals reach their goals, manage their money, and save for emergencies and retirement is the 50/20/30 budget rule : spending 50% on needs, 20% on savings, and 30% on wants.

How Do I Create a Budget?

Budgeting starts with tracking how much money you receive and spend every month. You can do this in an Excel sheet, on paper, or with a budgeting app . It’s up to you. However you decide to track, clearly lay out the following:

• Income : List all sources of money that you receive in a month, with the dollar amount. This can include paychecks, investment income, alimony, settlements, and money that you make from side jobs or other projects, such as selling crafts.
• Expenses : List every purchase that you make in a month, split into two categories: fixed expenses and discretionary spending . Review your bank statements, credit card statements, and brokerage account statements to be sure to capture them all. Fixed expenses are the purchases that you must make every month. Their amounts don’t change (or change very little) and are considered essential. They include rent/mortgage payments, loan payments, and utilities. Discretionary spending is nonessential spending or varying purchases for things like restaurant meals, shopping, clothes, and travel. Consider your wants rather than needs.
• Savings : Record the amount of money that you’re able to save each month, whether it’s in cash, cash deposited into a bank account, or money that you add to an investment account or retirement account like an IRA or 401(k) (if your employer offers one).

Subtract your total expenses from your total income to get the amount of money you have left at the end of the month. Now that you have a clear picture of money coming in, money going out, and money saved, you can identify which expenses you can cut back on, if necessary.

If you don’t already have one, put your extra money into an emergency fund until you’ve saved at least three to six months’ worth of expenses (in case of a job loss or other emergency). Don’t use this money for discretionary spending. The key is to keep it safe and grow it for times when your income decreases or stops.

How to Start Investing 

Once you have enough savings to start investing, you’ll want to learn the basics of where and how to invest your money. Decide what to invest in and how much to invest by understanding the risks (and potential rewards) of different types of investments.

What Is the Stock Market?

The stock market refers to the collection of markets and exchanges where stock buying and selling takes place. The terms “stock market” and “stock exchange” can be used interchangeably. And even though it’s called a stock market, other financial securities , such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs) , corporate bonds , and derivatives based on stocks, commodities, currencies, and bonds, are also traded there. There are multiple stock trading venues. The leading stock exchanges in the U.S. include the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) , Nasdaq , and the Cboe Options Exchange .

How Do I Invest?

To buy stocks , you need to use a broker . This is a professional person or digital platform whose job it is to handle the transaction for you. For new investors, there are three basic categories of brokers:

• A full-service broker who manages your investment transactions and provides advice for a fee.
• An online/discount broker that executes your transactions and provides advice depending on how much you have invested. Examples include Fidelity, TD Ameritrade, and Charles Schwab.
• A robo-advisor that executes your trades and can pick investments for you with little human assistance. Examples include Betterment, Wealthfront, and Schwab Intelligent Portfolios.

What Should I Invest in?

There’s no right answer for everyone. Which securities you buy, and how much you buy, will depend on the amount of money that you have available for investing and how much risk you’re willing to take to try to earn a higher return. Here are the most common securities to invest in, listed in descending order of risk:

Stocks : A stock (also known as “shares” or “equity”) is a type of investment that signifies partial ownership in the issuing company. This entitles the stockholder to a proportion of the corporation’s assets and earnings.

Owning stock gives you the right to vote in shareholder meetings, receive dividends (which come from the company’s profits) if and when they are distributed, and sell your shares to somebody else.

The price of a stock fluctuates throughout the day and can depend on many factors, including the company’s performance, the domestic economy, the global economy, the day’s news, and more. Stocks can rise in value, fall in value, or even become worthless, making them more volatile and potentially riskier than many other types of investments.

ETFs : An exchange-traded fund, or ETF, consists of a collection of securities, such as stocks. It often tracks an underlying index . ETFs can invest in any number of industry sectors or use various strategies.

Think of an ETF as a pie containing many different securities. When you buy shares of an ETF, you’re buying a slice of the pie, which contains slivers of the securities inside. This lets you purchase a variety of stocks at once, with the ease and convenience of only one purchase—the ETF.

In many ways, ETFs are similar to mutual funds. For instance, they both offer instant diversification and are professionally managed. However, ETFs are listed on exchanges and ETF shares trade throughout the day just like ordinary stocks.

Investing in ETFs is considered less risky than investing in individual stocks because there are many securities inside the ETF. If some of those securities fall in value, others may stay steady or rise in value.

Mutual funds : A mutual fund is a type of investment consisting of a portfolio of stocks, bonds, or other securities. Mutual funds give small or individual investors access to diversified, professionally managed portfolios at a low price.

There are many categories of mutual funds, representing the kinds of securities in which they invest, their investment objectives, and the type of returns that they seek. Most employer-sponsored retirement plans invest in mutual funds.

Investing in shares of a mutual fund is different from investing in individual shares of stock because a mutual fund owns many different stocks (or other securities). Unlike stocks or ETFs that trade at varying prices throughout the day, mutual fund purchases and redemptions​ take place only at the end of each trading day and at a fund's net asset value (NAV) . Similar to ETFs, mutual funds are considered less risky than stocks because of their diversification .

Mutual funds charge annual fees, called expense ratios , and in some cases, commissions.

Bonds : Bonds are issued by companies, municipalities, states, and sovereign governments to finance projects and operations. When an investor buys a bond, they’re effectively lending their money to the bond issuer, with the promise of repayment plus interest. A bond’s coupon rate is the interest rate that the investor will earn.

A bond is referred to as a fixed-income instrument because bonds traditionally have paid a fixed interest rate to investors, although some bonds pay variable interest rates . Bond prices inversely correlate with interest rates. When rates go up, bond prices fall, and vice versa. Bonds have maturity dates, which are the point in time when the principal amount must be paid back to the investor in full or the issuer will risk default.

Bonds are rated by how likely the issuer is to pay you back. Higher-rated bonds, known as investment-grade bonds, are viewed as safer and more stable. Such offerings are tied to publicly traded corporations and government entities that boast positive outlooks.

Investment grade bonds receive “AAA” to “BBB-” ratings from Standard and Poor’s and “Aaa” to “Baa3” ratings from Moody’s. Bonds with higher ratings will usually pay lower rates of interest than those with lower ratings. U.S. Treasury bonds are the most common AAA-rated bond securities.

Are Banks Safe?

Most bank accounts in the United States are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) up to certain limits, currently defined as “up to at least $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, per ownership category.” If you have a great deal of money to put in the bank, you can make sure that it’s all covered by opening multiple accounts.

Is It Safe to Invest in the Stock Market?

Stocks are inherently risky—some more than others—and you can lose money if their share prices fall. Brokerage accounts are insured by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation for up to $500,000 in securities and cash. However, that applies only if the brokerage firm fails and is unable to repay its customers. It does not cover normal investor losses.

What Is the Safest Investment?

U.S. Treasury securities, including bonds, bills, and notes, are backed by the U.S. government and generally are considered the safest investments in the world. However, these kinds of investments tend to pay low rates of interest, so investors do face a risk that inflation may erode the purchasing power of their money over time.

The topics in this article are just the beginning of a financial education, but they cover the most important and frequently used products, tools, and tips for getting started. If you’re ready to learn more, check out these additional resources from Investopedia:

• Investopedia YouTube Channel
• Investopedia Dictionary
• Investopedia Stock Market Simulator

FINRA. " National Study by FINRA Foundation Finds U.S. Adults’ Financial Capability Has Generally Grown Despite Pandemic Disruption ."

Federal Reserve System. " Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2023 ," Page 35.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. “ What’s Covered: Are My Deposit Accounts Insured by the FDIC? ”

National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). " Mission and Values ."

Federal Reserve Bank of New York. " Household Debt Rose by $184 Billion as of Q1 2024; Delinquency Transition Rates Increased Across All Debt Types ."

S&P Global. " S&P Global Ratings Definitions ."

Moody's. " Rating Scale and Definitions ."

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. “ Deposit Insurance FAQs .”

Securities Investor Protection Corporation. “ Mission .”

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. " Treasury Securities ."

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Best Finance Books

Enhance your financial literacy with this compilation of finance books, esteemed by experts and often cited in authoritative finance blogs and articles..

13 Best Finance Books for Young Adults

Jasmina Milosevic is a creative writer with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Language and Literature. She makes an effort to present different topics in finance in a captivating and engaging way.

Young adults often face major financial challenges with minimal preparation. They deal with student loan debt, limited incomes, the need to build credit, and more, typically equipped with only basic financial knowledge. Finance books for young adults can help them build the knowledge they need.

If you’re in this position, these finance books for young adults will help you get off on the right foot.

📚 Best Finance Books for Young Adults:

• How to Money – By Kathryn Tuggle and Jean Chatzky
• I Want More Pizza – By Steve Burkholder
• Broke Millennial – By Erin Lowry
• Get a Financial Life – By Beth Kobliner
• Rich Dad, Poor Dad for Teens – By Robert Kiyosaki
• Pay Less for College – By Elizabeth Walter and Debra Thro
• The Infographic Guide to Personal Finance – By Michele Cagan and Elisabeth Lariviere
• Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School? – By Cary Siegel
• How to Adult: Personal Finance for the Real World – By Jake Cousineau
• The Simple Path to Wealth – By J. L. Collins
• A Teenager’s Guide to Investing in the Stock Market – By Luke Villermin
• I Will Teach You to Be Rich – By Ramit Sethi
• You Are a Badass at Making Money – By Jen Sincero

How We Chose These Books

We considered several factors when selecting books for this list, such as the author’s expertise, awards, critical acclaim, and online reviews. We also included new and noteworthy titles to provide readers with a diverse range of options and keep up-to-date with the latest trends.

1. How to Money

By Kathryn Tuggle and Jean Chatzky

How to Money is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to improve their understanding of personal finance. The authors provide actionable advice on multiple personal finance topics, including budgeting, saving, investing, and managing debt.

The content is divided into five sections: Earn It, Manage It, Use It, Get Schooled, and Look to the Future. Readers learn how to make informed decisions about their money through easy-to-read language and real-life examples.

🔑 Key takeaways: This book is designed to introduce young adults to personal finance. It provides the foundation they need to build a better financial future and avoid the pitfalls that put so many young people in a financial hole before they even get started.

✍️ About the author: Kathryn Tuggle and Jean Chatzky are financial journalists and authors. Tuggle is the managing editor of LearnVest and a contributing writer for Forbes, while Chatzky is the financial editor of NBC’s TODAY show and the author of several books. They are financial literacy advocates and have collaborated on several projects, including the Money School online course and the How to Money book.

2. I Want More Pizza

By Steve Burkholder

I Want More Pizza, by Steve Burkholder, focuses on the crucial basics of money management, such as budgeting, saving, investing, and credit. It also provides a wealth of practical advice on topics like getting a job, applying for scholarships, and making the most of student discounts.

The book is built around the pizza analogy, which helps younger individuals understand the linkages that connect fundamental financial concepts.

The book is short, only around 100 pages, and is designed to be accessible to teens.

🔑 Key takeaways: I Want More Pizza is packed with helpful information but written in a direct, easy-to-follow tone. It’s widely used in school personal finance programs and is an excellent resource for teaching teenagers, students, and young adults more about finances. The book is filled with the author’s real-life examples of his money troubles during his younger years, giving readers real-world lessons that they can relate to.

✍️ About the author: Steve Burkholder is a CPA with degrees in finance and accounting. He teaches corporate finance and devotes much of his spare time to providing accessible basic financial education to young people.

3. Broke Millennial

By Erin Lowry

Broke Millennial by Erin Lowry is an insightful and practical guide to financial success for young adults. The book is filled with helpful advice and tips on managing finances, from budgeting and saving to investing and debt management.

With simple language and engaging true stories, learning about finances turns into a fun experience quickly.

🔑 Key takeaways: Broke Millennial avoids the common trap of approaching personal finance from the perspective of an older author who is already financially stable. It’s a realistic, sympathetic viewpoint that will resonate with people who have made mistakes (like all of us) and need help, not judgment.

✍️ About the author: Erin Lowry is an engaging author who writes in an approachable and straightforward style. She draws on her own experiences and provides examples to illustrate her points. She has written several other outstanding finance books, including Broke Millennial Takes On Investing and Broke Millennial Talks Money.

Read key ideas on Blinkist →

4. Get a Financial Life

Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties

By Beth Kobliner

Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties by Beth Kobliner is a comprehensive and easy-to-follow guide to taking control of your finances. Catering primarily to young adults, it covers topics such as setting financial goals, budgeting and saving, investing, understanding taxes, buying a home, insurance, and other critical financial matters for this age.

Kobliner breaks down complex financial concepts into easy-to-understand language, making it an excellent guide for those just starting their journey to financial literacy .

🔑 Key takeaways: Get a Financial Life was first published in 1996 and served as a financial bible for young people struggling to get started during the 2001 and 2008-2009 recessions. Despite its age, this New York Times bestseller is as relevant as ever. It is straightforward and accessible and is an ideal pick if you want a general introduction to personal finance.

✍️ About the author: Beth Kobliner is a financial journalist, personal finance commentator, and best-selling author. Her primary mission is to help people improve their financial lives by providing valuable insights, tips, and tricks. Her book Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties is a New York Times bestseller, alongside her other book, Make Your Kid a Money Genius.

5. Rich Dad, Poor Dad for Teens

By Robert Kiyosaki

Rich Dad Poor Dad has become a personal finance classic since its publication in 1997. Not everyone agrees with its approach – our review digs deeper into those issues – but it remains one of the most popular personal finance books in the country.

Rich Dad Poor Dad for Teens is an adaptation of a well-known bestseller aimed at younger audiences. Reviews of the book are mixed – some readers found it short, and a bit repetitive – but they are still generally favorable…

🔑 Key takeaways: Rich Dad Poor Dad for Teens takes the lessons from Rich Dad Poor Dad and reframes them for a younger audience. Not everyone finds those lessons useful, but if you liked Rich Dad, Poor Dad and you’re looking for a personal finance book for your kids, it’s worth a try!

✍️ About the author: Robert Kiyosaki is a businessman, entrepreneur, and author. He’s the founder of Rich Global LLC and the Rich Dad Company. In addition to being a successful businessman, he provides personal finance advice and educates others on managing their finances.

6. Pay Less for College

By Elizabeth Walter and Debra Thro

Paying for college is an almost ubiquitous concern among college-bound young adults. Pay Less for College is a valuable guide that helps students take care of their finances and teaches them how to afford their degree without plunging into a lifetime’s worth of debt.

After seeing how confusing and misleading college financial aid information is, the authors created a guide that will allow young adults to plan their college funds and make the most of the available financial aid. The result is a simple but comprehensive guide to making college affordable.

🔑 Key takeaways: Most of the books on this list cover general personal finance topics. Pay Less for College is much more specific and aims at a very specific audience: college students, soon-to-be college students, and their families. It helps students navigate financial aid and take control of various college costs. It also teaches them how to get more free money through scholarships and grants and save tens of thousands of dollars throughout their higher education.

✍️ About the author: Debra Thro is an ASCA Certified College Admissions Specialist and a PACAC member. She collaborated with Elizabeth Walter in writing Pay Less for College.

7. The Infographic Guide to Personal Finance

By Michele Cagan and Elisabeth Lariviere

Some people are visual thinkers and find it easier to absorb information when it’s laid out in a graphic form. If that sounds like you, The Infographic Guide to Personal Finance is the perfect personal finance book for you. It contains informative lessons about finances delivered through captivating graphics.

The visually appealing infographics in this book cover a range of personal finance topics, from spending, budgeting, and saving to credit, debt, housing, and investing. If there’s a young person in your life who’s having trouble with traditional finance books – or if you are – this one is worth a try.

🔑 Key takeaways: This is not a simple picture book. It takes complex concepts about money and presents them in a visually appealing form that many people will find easier to understand than written explanations.

✍️ About the author: Michele Cagan is a CPA, financial mentor, and author with more than 20 years of experience in the field of finance. She has written multiple books and articles about personal finance and investing. She collaborated with Elisabeth Lariviere in writing Pay Less for College.

8. Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School?

By Cary Siegel

Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School? 99 Personal Money Management Principles to Live By was written by a business executive who wanted to lay out lessons that would teach his five kids more about finance as they entered adulthood. The book quickly received worldwide fame.

Some readers found some of the advice – especially the suggestion that college students avoid credit cards – dated, but the basic principles have generally been well received.

🔑 Key takeaways: Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School? covers budgeting, spending, investing, insurance, mortgage, credit cards, and many more topics. It’s packed with valuable tips and tricks that most people don’t learn in school.

✍️ About the author: Cary Siegel holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and was a business executive at many marketing and sales organizations. He published Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School? book in 2017, while Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School, Too? hit the shelves in 2018.

9. How to Adult: Personal Finance for the Real World

By Jake Cousineau

How to Adult: Personal Finance for the Real World has been called “an essential resource for a high school graduate, college student, or any other young adult who needs to prepare for the financial realities of adulthood”. It addresses a range of personal finance topics, from basic budgeting and saving to more complex concepts like investing, retirement accounts, taxes, and insurance.

By equipping young adults with money management fundamentals, this book prepares its readers for the financial realities of adulthood.

🔑 Key takeaways: How to Adult: Personal Finance for the Real World is longer and more complex than some of the books on this list. It might not be the right choice for younger readers or reluctant readers, but it is a book that you can keep on your shelf – and keep consulting – throughout the adulting process.

✍️ About the author: Jake Cousineau is an author and educator that shares his knowledge about finance to teach others to manage their money more successfully. He taught personal finance classes in high schools for years, gaining a strong appreciation for the financial education needs of young Americans.

With his book How to Adult: Personal Finance for the Real World, Jake Cousineau hopes to reach a wider audience of young adults and provide them with everything they need to know about personal finances in the real world.

10. The Simple Path to Wealth

By J. L. Collins

The Simple Path to Wealth is an investing book for people who know nothing about investing. For young people, investment often seems a remote activity for people who already have money, and that attitude often keeps people from investing early and giving their assets the largest possible time to appreciate.

This book covers everything a young person needs to understand what investing is about and get started early, along with other personal finance knowledge.

🔑 Key takeaways: The investment world can be harsh, especially for young adults and beginners who don’t know much about this topic. That’s where The Simple Path to Wealth comes in handy, as it provides readers with a simple map and tools necessary to forge financial stability and build wealth with confidence.

If you’re looking for a general personal finance book, this might not be your top choice, as it is primarily focused on investing. If you’re looking to get started with investments, though, it’s a prime pick.

✍️ About the author: J. L. Collins is currently a financial blogger and book author. However, he was also an account executive, consultant, investment officer, entrepreneur, speaker, radio talk show host, and magazine publisher. With so much knowledge and experiences to share, his book The Simple Path to Wealth is an excellent choice.

11. A Teenager’s Guide to Investing in the Stock Market

By Luke Villermin

Luke Villermin’s A Teenager’s Guide to Investing in the Stock Market is focused on the advantages of starting investing early. Just because most people wait until they’re in their 30s to start investing doesn’t mean that’s the best thing to do.

By presenting the benefits of investing as early as their teenage years, Villermin hopes to motivate younger generations to start working on their financial stability today.

🔑 Key takeaways: The book’s primary goal is to inspire teenagers and young adults to start saving and investing today. The readers can do so thanks to a step-by-step guide to opening an online account, purchasing stock, and putting money to work. The book also covers the stock market’s basics and how to choose the best investments.

This is a focused book with a single purpose. If that purpose lines up with your objectives, it’s a good choice!

✍️ About the author: Luke Villermin is a successful author interested in sharing his knowledge about finances and investing. He is the author of several well-received books. Besides A Teenager’s Guide to Investing in the Stock Market, Luke Villermin wrote On Your Mark, Get Set, Spending Wisely, INVEST: A Kid’s Guide to Saving Money, and several others.

12. I Will Teach You to Be Rich

By Ramit Sethi

Another outstanding read is I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi. It’s a New York Times Bestseller published in 2009 that tackles the process of becoming rich. Today’s version is completely updated with over 80 pages of new material.

I Will Teach You to Be Rich is written in a light, irreverent style that one reviewer describes as “part frat boy and part Silicon Valley geek, with a little bit of San Francisco hipster thrown in”. Don’t let the style fool you: the advice is entirely serious.

🔑 Key takeaways: I Will Teach You to Be Rich makes some pretty ambitious claims, notably of a “no-BS 6-week program”, a pretty quick timeline when getting rich is the goal! With almost 13,000 overwhelmingly positive reviews, though, this book has clearly made an impression on a large number of readers!

✍️ About the author: Ramit Sethi is a bestselling author who has been featured by ABC News, CNN, and the Wall Street Journal. He’s dedicated to helping his followers manage personal finances and work on their financial stability. Instead of simply guiding them to becoming financially independent, Ramit Sethi teaches readers how to become rich.

13. You Are a Badass at Making Money

By Jen Sincero

Last but certainly not least, we complete this reading list with You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero. You Are a Badass is one of the most talked-about books in the personal finance world.

Most personal finance books focus on the practical steps we can take to put our finances in order. You Are a Badass at Making Money takes a different approach, focusing on the mindsets and mental blocks that prevent so many people from achieving financial progress.

🔑 Key takeaways: The connection between mental attitudes and money is well-documented, and that connection is increasingly seen as a key to breaking out of self-destructive habits and replacing them with constructive ones. You Are a Badass at Making Money takes an easygoing, positive, guilt-free approach to help you unlock your financial potential.

✍️ About the author: Jen Sincero is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and speaker who has helped thousands of people transform their lives. With You Are a Badass series of books and Badass Coaching Programs, Jen Sincero motivates people of all ages to improve their lives in different aspects, especially the financial one.

By Jasmina Milosevic

Contributing writer.

Jasmina Milosevic is a creative writer with an interest in a variety of niches, including finance. With a Bachelor’s Degree in English Language and Literature, she makes an effort to present different topics in finance in a captivating and engaging way. She is a team member of Podroom Creative.

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7 Best Finance Books of 2022

• Understanding your personal finances can help build your financial confidence, improve your money management skills, and outright save you money.
• The National Financial Educators Council reported that a lack of financial knowledge cost Americans an average of $1,389 in 2021.
• Whether you’re looking for better ways to manage your debt or planning your retirement, there’s a personal finance book out there that can help.

You didn’t know your employer offered a 401(k) match. And you didn’t realize your student loans accrued interest while you were still in school. You had no idea how quickly interest could accrue when you carry a balance on your credit card . 

Sound familiar? Many people feel like they don’t understand their personal finances. In fact, the National Financial Educators Council reported that Americans lost an average of $1,389 in 2021 due to a lack of financial knowledge. 

There are lots of personal finance books out there that can give you the information you need to manage your money with confidence. While mainstays like Dave Ramsey’s “The Total Money Makeover” and Suze Orman’s “The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke” are popular, there are other options from a diverse range of authors with different areas of expertise that can help you build your financial confidence. 

Check out our picks for the seven best finance books to help you improve your money management skills.

1. “Get Good With Money” by Tiffany Aliche: Best for Creating an Action Plan

For those that have made money mistakes in the past — such as borrowing too much to pay for college or raiding an emergency fund for a shopping spree — feelings of shame and guilt can make it tough to get ahead. 

Tiffany Aliche, founder of The Budgetnista, a financial education company, wrote “ Get Good With Money ” after experiencing her own missteps, including listening to a scam financial advisor that caused her to end up significantly in debt. 

From her experience, Aliche created the book to help those struggling to get a handle on their money build an action plan. The book is full of assessment tools and assignments to empower you to get on track. It’s comprehensive, with each chapter focusing on a different aspect of finance, from building a budget to digging yourself out of debt. 

Because the book touches on so many topics, it can’t do a thorough breakdown of each area. For example, there are few tips on handling student loan or mortgage debt. Instead, the book focuses on credit cards and other forms of consumer debt. 

2. “The Simple Path to Wealth” by JL Collins: Best for Novice Investors

JL Collins’ “ Simple Path to Wealth ” shows that investing can be accessible to everyone, regardless of income or background. 

“The Simple Path to Wealth” is a book on investing with a simple, straightforward approach. It covers what accounts to use, what types of investments to consider — and more importantly, which to avoid — and how to plan for retirement . 

This book is focused on a long-term, passive approach to investing . Those looking for tips on picking individual stocks and alternative investment options like cryptocurrency are likely to be disappointed. But investors who want a roadmap for long-term investing will find the material invaluable. 

3. “Broke Millennial” by Erin Lowry: Best for Recent College Graduates

Many personal finance books assume a certain level of financial accomplishments. They may work off the assumption that you have a steady income or own a home. For recent college graduates and young adults starting out, the advice in those books may be out of touch. 

Erin Lowry’s “ Broke Millennial ” addresses that problem with step-by-step guidance specifically written for the unique challenges facing young adults. It can help college graduates who have never had a paycheck before, those living hand to mouth and want to break the cycle, and those drowning in student loan debt . Lowry makes complicated topics easier to understand with simple advice and examples from real people, so you can improve your relationship with money. 

Those who are in a more stable financial position or further in their careers may not find the book as useful since it's geared towards young adults, but it has plenty of foundational knowledge that can be applied to all aspects of personal finance. 

4. “Money Hacks” by Lisa Rowan: Best for Budgeting

Books that deal with personal finances can be full of industry jargon and overwhelming for people trying to learn the basics. 

Lisa Rowan’s “ Money Hacks ” is a different sort of book. It breaks down managing your money into 280 “hacks,” giving you easily digestible, actionable information. 

Each chapter is focused on one aspect of money management. Chapter 1, for example, focuses on curbing mindless spending, while chapter 2 includes tips on saving money . 

Rowan’s book is best for those new to handling their finances or who have had trouble sticking to a budget in the past. Each money hack will teach you how to follow your spending plan, save money, and plan for the future. 

There are times when the snippets in each hack are short, particularly in the investing and retirement sections. Readers may find that they don’t have enough information about how to implement those hacks using just the information from the book. But it does provide some important tips that may motivate readers to seek out more help. 

5. “I Will Teach You to Be Rich” by Ramit Sethi: Best for General Money Management

Ramit Sethi, a best-selling entrepreneur, published “ I Will Teach You to Be Rich ” in 2009. Since then, it's become a go-to money manual for those looking to overhaul their financial lives. Sethi has updated the book to include advice applicable to today’s economy and broaden its reach to older audiences. 

“I Will Teach You to Be Rich” is a six-week program that teaches readers how to pay down debt, automate their finances, negotiate lower rates, and invest for the future. It’s an excellent, comprehensive overview, making it a valuable resource for someone looking for tips on building wealth. 

Sethi contains specific scripts and guides on how  to negotiate with creditors and lenders, and also shares information about how psychology can affect how we spend money. By being aware of those influences, you can better control your spending and plan for the future. 

Sethi’s tone and style aren’t for everyone, but the book delivers valuable information and tips. 

6. “The Millionaire Next Door″ by Thomas J. Stanley: Best for Retirement Planning 

If you’re unhappy with the life you’re leading and feel like you’re stuck in the rat race, Thomas Stanley’s “ The Millionaire Next Door ” is a must-read. This best-selling book covers the seven habits of self-made millionaires. 

Stanley highlights how you may never know who is actually a millionaire. Many are driving modest, older cars, and live in tidy bungalows rather than sprawling mansions. And it’s because of those decisions that those people became millionaires, Stanley concludes. 

Stanley’s book shares how you can gain financial independence and retire as a millionaire without a six-figure job. He focuses on long-term investing to build a financial nest egg so people have more freedom and control over their lives. 

Stanley is primarily focused on frugality, so those who don’t want to live a minimalist lifestyle may find his advice too restrictive. But it could be motivating for those who may have thought saving for retirement was impossible. 

7. “Get Money” by Kristin Wong: Best for Managing Debt

Kristin Wong knows what it’s like to be broke and in debt. So “ Get Money ” is a book filled with actionable tips and useful advice — without judgment or shame. For those that may be struggling with credit card debt or living paycheck to paycheck, Wong’s empathetic approach may resonate. 

Wong explains the importance of an emergency fund (what she calls an “Oh Crap Fund”), rebuilding your credit, and how to pay off credit card bills. Her approach to debt repayment is especially refreshing, since she eliminates the sense of guilt and is instead future-focused. She outlines a three-step plan for debt that includes calculating your current debt, choosing a strategy to pay it off, and prioritizing which debt to pay off first.

Wong’s gamified approach to personal finance can make paying down debt and budgeting easier and more enjoyable. Those who are more established and stable with their finances may find that the information is too basic. But if you’re overwhelmed by credit card debt and student loans, Wong’s book could be a game-changer. 

Building your financial knowledge

Whether you want to learn how to save for retirement or how to pay off your student loans, there are books out there that can help you accomplish your goals. Reading about personal finance can be eye-opening and empowering, giving you the tools and knowledge you need to make sound financial decisions.

This material has been presented for informational and educational purposes only. The views expressed in the articles above are generalized and may not be appropriate for all investors. The information contained in this article should not be construed as, and may not be used in connection with, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or hold, an interest in any security or investment product. There is no guarantee that past performance will recur or result in a positive outcome. Carefully consider your financial situation, including investment objective, time horizon, risk tolerance, and fees prior to making any investment decisions. No level of diversification or asset allocation can ensure profits or guarantee against losses. Article contributors are not affiliated with Acorns Advisers, LLC. and do not provide investment advice to Acorns’ clients. Acorns is not engaged in rendering tax, legal or accounting advice. Please consult a qualified professional for this type of service.

Kat Tretina is a freelance writer and certified financial and student loan counselor.