"When it comes to investing, risk control matters far more than chasing returns. In this book Dr. Bill Bernstein will show you that you have probably been worrying about the wrong risks when it comes to your investments. When you understand the theory, history, psychology, and business of investing, you will be far more likely to successfully reach your own ?nancial goals, while taking as little real risk as necessary."
¡ªJames M. Dahle, MD, Founder of The White Coat Investor
"Bill Bernstein possesses a rare combination of gifts: mathematician, historian, statistician, psychologist, econometrician, and wordsmith. These and a profound sense of what financial truths are misunderstood, crucial, and captivating form the foundation for this welcome edition of The Four Pillars of Investing, a pillar of my investment strategies course."
¡ª Edward Tower, economics professor, Duke University
"Successful investing is a mind game. You win by understanding and controlling risk, not by plunging into the ?nancial jungle in search of a unicorn. Your goal is a comfortable life, a well-funded retirement and, perhaps, legacies for your children. This valuable book shows you how to keep eye on the ball¡ªearning capital returns the intelligent way."
¡ªJane Bryant Quinn, author of How to Make Your Money Last: The Indispensable Retirement Guide
"In this fully revised investment classic, you can learn the lessons of a lifetime from one of America¡¯s most preeminent investment advisers. Writing in an engaging and humorous style, Bernstein teaches us that successful investing involves not only doing the right thing but also avoiding the all-too-common blunders that can ruin any investment plan. Incorporating lessons from investment theory and history and understanding our psychological biases, this wise and entertaining book provides a trusted source of investment advice.
¡ªBurton G. Malkiel, economics professor, Princeton University and author, A Random Walk Down Wall Street, 50th anniversary edition, 2023
"Bernstein has brilliantly distilled what is essentially four books into one here in an enlightening tour through investing theory, history, psychology and business using practical examples, stories, metaphors, math and a bit of humor. It's full of hard-won investing perspective and sage advice in an easily digestible format- the kind of book you could recommend to someone new to investing and know you did them right."
¡ªEric Balchunas, analyst, Bloomberg, author of The Bogle Effect
"Four Pillars has something for everybody. It¡¯s the first investment book you should read, and also the fiftieth. Few investment books appeal to both novices and experts, and even fewer are a joy to read while doing so. It¡¯s approachable for novices, a revelation to apprentices, and instructive even for experts."
¡ªJohn Rekenthaler, Morningstar director of research
Chapter Page
Foreword ix
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction The Highway of Riches 1
Pillar 1 The Theory of Investing
Chapter 1 No Balls, No Blue Chips 13
Chapter 2 Odds and Ends 39
Chapter 3 The Recent History of Randomovia 55
Chapter 4 The Perfect Portfolio 79
Chapter 5 Asset Allocation for Investing Adults, Part 1 95
Chapter 6 Asset Allocation for Investing Adults, Part 2 101
Chapter 7 Asset Allocation for Investing Adults, Part 3 119
Pillar 2 The History of Investing
Chapter 8 A Brief History of Financial Time 133
Chapter 9 Tops 143
Chapter 10 Bottoms 161
Pillar 3 The Psychology of Investing
Chapter 11 Misbehavior 181
Chapter 12 Dealing with the Shakespeare 203
Pillar 4 The Business of Investing
Chapter 13 Your Broker (Sorry, "Investment Advisor") Is Not Your Buddy 215
Chapter 14 The Improving Mutual Fund Scene 225
Chapter 15 Investment Pornography and You 239
Investment Strategy Assembling the Four Pillars
Chapter 16 How Much ...Do You Need to Retire? 251
Chapter 17 Building It, Maintaining It, and Spending It 257
Chapter 18 Nuts and Bolts 273
Chapter 19 A Final Word 303
Notes 307
Index 323