Are you underwhelmed with the way your traditional 60/40 portfolio has been performing lately and wondering why? Do you suspect there might be better ways to invest your money, but aren’t sure what they are? What about all those “alternative” investments you keep hearing so much about in the media, such as commodities, real estate, emerging market funds, and, of course, that darling of pirates, Medieval monarchs, and radio talk-show hosts everywhere: gold? And how about the legion of new financial products Wall Street keeps spawning like kudzu-exotic creatures with strange-sounding names like “replicants,” “100/30s,” and “buy/write” funds? How do they work, and do any of them make sense for you?
The Little Book of Alternative Investments gives you complete, detailed answers to all those questions-and a whole lot more. Like a pair of trusty native guides, bestselling investment authors Ben Stein and Phil DeMuth clear a path through the alternative investments jungle. They identify the flora and fauna, stopping along the way to tell you which ones are safe to consume and which ones will consume you, if given half a chance. And they explain in plain English, not Wall Street Swahili, how each product or class of products works (or doesn’t work), and how each can be used to help you reduce risk and boost returns.
Just as important, if not more so, Ben and Phil arm you with proven portfolio management strategies that take full advantage of the best of the best alternative products out there. No matter what your budget, level of experience, or tolerance for risk, you’ll discover how to use everything from REITs and futures to hedge funds and hedge fund-like mutual funds to shield your money from the bubble-and-bust, hurly-burly of the markets and come out ahead, in all economic climates.
Making the technical simple, the arcane accessible, and the dry laugh-out-loud funny, The Little Book of Alternative Investments is your guide to taming the alternative investments jungle and cultivating an investment portfolio that consistently delivers better-than-market risk-adjusted performance.

It’s been a tough couple of years for investors. Many have seen their retirement accounts dwindle dramatically and are looking for a safe way to protect what they have and make back some of what they’ve lost. That’s why the bestselling author team of Ben Stein and Phil DeMuth has created The Little Book of Bulletproof Investing.
When you invest, there are essential things you should do and many things you shouldn’t. The Little Book of Bulletproof Investing addresses these important issues and shows you how to utilize the fundamentals of finance to achieve success in today’s market.
This practical guide contains proven advice on navigating today’s treacherous financial landscape and will put you in a better position to make more informed investment decisions. This reliable resource:
• Includes street-smart advice for individual investors uncertain about their investment and retirement portfolios
• Provides a bulletproof investment portfolio that will minimize your financial risk in bad times and improve your returns in good times
• Outlines the steps you must take to maximize your income and savings and protect yourself from the financial calamities of modern life
Filled with in-depth insights and practical advice, The Little Book of Bulletproof Investing offers quick, easy-to-follow, and entertaining financial guidance for anyone looking to get back on the right investment track.