Navigating the Investment Minefield

H. Kent Baker, CFA, CMA, is an award-winning author/editor of 30 books including Investment Traps Exposed and Investor Behavior: The Psychology of Financial Planning and Investing. With more than 40 years of investment experience, he offers a practical approach to helping investors achieve their financial goals. He has consulting and training experience with more than 100 organizations. Professor Baker has helped train thousands of individuals to enter the investment professions. He is University Professor of Finance in the Kogod School of Business at American University and has eight earned degrees including three doctorates. Vesa Puttonen has extensive investment experience and has worked as Senior Vice President at the Helsinki Stock Exchange and as Managing Director at Conventum Asset Management (Helsinki). He has been a member of various boards of directors and investment committees and served as the Chairman of the Board, Finnish Hockey League. Professor Puttonen is Professor of Finance at Aalto University's School of Business and a faculty member of MBA Programs in Helsinki, Hong Kong, Singapore, Poland, China, Iran, Taiwan and South Korea. He has published numerous books and articles in the areas of finance and investments.

• Introduction Chapter 1. Navigating the Investment Minefield Chapter 2. Avoiding Common Investing Mistakes Chapter 3. Overcoming Your Behavioral Biases Chapter 4. Trap 1: Overpaying for Products and Services Chapter 5. Trap 2: Becoming a Victim of Investment Fraud Chapter 6. Trap 3: Misrepresenting Risky Products as Safe Chapter 7. Trap 4: Investing in Complex Products Chapter 8. Trap 5: Relying on Unsupported Evidence Chapter 9. Trap 6: Having Unrealistic Return Expectations Chapter 10. Trap 7: Engaging in Gambling Disguised as Investing Chapter 11. Trap 8: Falling for Mutual Fund Traps

The practical aspects of investments are still a void in our academic literature. Professors Baker and Puttonen have written this excellent and brilliant book to help introduce and elaborate the practical dimensions of investments. This book is a must read for any investor, finance practitioner, and business student. Frequent and common mistakes in investments and understanding risky products, among other topics, are well explored. Enjoy reading this book for developing better insights into the world of investment and wiser strategies. I strongly recommend this important book.