In this witty, eye-opening guide, Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor Rick Johnson shares his no-holds-barred approach to investing. Drawing on more than twenty years of experience in financial services, he shows hard-working Americans how to design successful investment portfolios and build financial strategies that are fully aligned with their personal values and life goals. Johnson debunks commonly held myths, exposes misconceptions, and delivers plenty of practical advice and relevant, real-world techniques and secrets for: Avoiding the usual--and costly--mistakes that even professionals make Determining how much risk you can tolerate Setting reasonable, achievable expectations (and then meeting or exceeding them) Designing a custom portfolio centered on your individual values, needs, and goals and accounting for future contributions, expenditures, and withdrawal needs Simultaneously investing for good markets and bad markets Selecting and hiring a financial professional And, ultimately, making more money by investing less aggressively With Johnson's grounded advice, you'll not only keep your assets--you'll multiply them. With vigilance, dedication, and discipline, you will live more richly, fulfill your goals and dreams, and achieve the financial security you need.