Darst: Pay Attention, Protect Your Assets

The Little Book That Saves Your Assets was written for one major purpose: to protect your assets in any kind of market environment, while helping the value of your portfolio grow over time.

Among the special features I've included in the book are:

A rundown of the key features of the 11 major asset classes, including the specific benefits and drawbacks of owning them (page 28).

An asset allocation clock, telling you what kind of assets to emphasize in periods of inflation, deflation, economic growth, and economic retrenchment (page 32).

Shortcuts for calculating the pretax portfolio return you will need - factoring in the impact of inflation - to live within your means after you retire (page 80).

The ten simple but critical questions you should ask in evaluating and selecting an investment manager (page 124).

The five essential questions you should ask of someone who is acting for you in evaluating and selecting the investment manager (page 125).

A mapping of the interplay between Human Capital (your occupational earnings stream) and Financial Capital over your working lifetime (page 147).

Seven common pitfalls and how to avoid them (Chapter 13) and a description of the action steps you could and should take to get started right now (Chapter 14).

Three simple questionnaires: a self-profile; a review of your investment outlook; and a recap of what kinds of investments might be most suitable for you.

And last but not least, a six-page chapter (Chapter 2) helping you identify your wise counselor (your "Uncle Frank"), as well as many pithy "Shout-Outs" of advice and wisdom from Uncle Frank himself throughout the book.

Never before have investors had such efficient, low-cost, transparent ways to access today's global markets for stocks, bonds, currencies, commodities, real estate, inflation-indexed securities, and many other asset classes. That being said, I felt there was a crucial need for investors of every kind to have a GPS system that could help navigate the world's financial highways, streets, lanes, and boulevards. I've sought to make The Little Book That Saves Your Assets precisely that indispensable tool -- something that all investors could use to reach their own personal destinations.

The Street.com TV: How the Rich Stay Rich

Morgan Stanley's (MS Quote) Darst offers essential tips for protecting your wealth in a tough economy.

To watch the video, click the player below: