Whether you are a novice or budding expert, there is much to consider and know when investing: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate, retirement planning, and tax strategies, just for starters. It can all be difficult and confusing. The Handy Investing Answer Book explains, in plain English, the basics of investing. It offers simple investment strategies; investigates common pitfalls; examines concepts of compounding, portfolios and diversification; traces the history of investing; and offers much more to help everyone make wise decisions.The Handy Investing Answer Book explores a variety of investments and their differences, avoiding poor returns and unnecessary risk, understanding financial markets—and how to prevent banks, mutual fund managers and financial advisers getting rich at your expense. Appreciation, dividends, interest, and inflation all effect the value of investments, and this valuable resource looks at handling them to build a successful portfolio for every stage in your financial life. It goes beyond an and introduction to the subject to breakdown complex concepts and definitions into more than 1,400 easy-to-understand answers, such as:Why is dollar cost averaging a beneficial strategy for investing?What is a home equity loan?What are some of the steps to establishing the right goals for investing?What is diversification?What types of risks could we see if we own individual stocks?When did mutual funds start?What is laddering?A glossary of commonly used terms explains key concepts and financial jargon, and helpful financial tables and charts assist with strategies.
Geography is more than just maps and finding your destination. It is about the land, the people on that land, the delicate balance of nature, and our very interdependence upon it, despite the miracles of technology and grocery stores. It’s about the effects of nature on places and people, as well as how politics, borders, cities, and towns affect our lives. The Handy Geography Answer Book traces the history of geography from Eratosthenes and Alexander von Humboldt to latitude and longitude, and the latest advances in the Global Positioning System (GPS). It provides insights into economic, social, historic, culture, religious, political, and climate geography, plus oceanography, demographics, and more.Completely revised and updated, it tours the world, its natural features, and the ever-changing mark humans make on our planet, answering 1,200 questions from the trivia (longest, hottest, tallest) to how geography has influenced history, religion, architecture, and the location of cities, including Who first had the idea that there is a magnetic North Pole? What is interesting about Google’s “Streetview”? How many people are projected to live on the planet in 2050? Which state has the highest annual divorce rate? What are the largest and smallest counties in the U.S.?