More thoughts after reading Millionaire Teacher by Andrew Hallam

Disclaimer: I am not a financial adviser.  I work in the healthcare industry after having studied for 4 years to earn my degree.  I probably earn much less than many financial advisers who sell actively managed funds.  One of my favourite subjects during university was law and bioethics.  I doubt financial advisers who sell actively managed funds took those subjects.  If you want more information on how to get started in the investing world, read on...

My interest in investing started sometime after I started working.  I wanted my money to work as hard, if not harder.  I left the cozy and comfortable government sector after 6 year, and have been working as a contractor.  That meant I had no one else but myself to pay for those conferences and CME courses.  That meant that I had no one else but myself to ensure that I have enough funds for retirement.  Therefore, I started to read and research.

I am a slow reader.  I am too embarrassed to say how long it took me to finish reading and understanding Peter Lynch's Learn to Earn but this was my first book on investing.  That book introduced the world of investing to me and I liked what I saw.  So, I went on to buy and read Mr. Lynch's two other books before I bought John Bogle's Common Sense on Mutual Funds.  I read his books in 6 months.  I must be improving - I finished reading Andrew Hallam's book in 6 days! 

Yes, I have bought many books on investing over the years.  There are many books on investing in the market but which book would I buy and read first if I could turn back time?  Here's it is:

1. Andrew Hallam's Millionaire Teacher
2. John Bogle's Common Sense on Mutual Funds
3. Benjamin Graham's The Intelligent Investor
4. Suze Orman's The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom (& watch her weekly show)
5. Peter Lynch's Learn to Earn

Yes, Andrew's book is the first on my list.  I would read it and follow his advice.  I would also follow his blog: andrewhallam.com 

I wouldn't have bought Pring's Technical Analysis Explained.  Nothing personal, but I think my brain isn't wired to understand all those technical stuff.  I kept dozing off after reading a page or two.  The difference with Andrew's book is that he introduces the world of investing in layperson's terms, and he shows you how to get started.  No big jargon like P/E ratio, EPS, wash trade, exhaustion gaps etc. because you won't need to know all these if you invested in index funds.

I can't turn back time, and I can't undo all the investing mistakes I have done despite of having read so many book over the years.  But I can:

1. Give Andrew's book as presents
2. Spread the news about Andrew's book to as many people as possible and,
3. Hope that as more people educate themselves with Andrew's book, the world of financial advisers will be more ethical...yes, all I can do is hope.

By the way, I don't know Andrew personally.  I have not met him, although I do hope to meet Andrew over a cup of coffee, and ask him what he thinks about my portfolio.

"Live long and prosper." Spock