The Risk-Wise Investor: How to Better Understand and Manage Risk

User-friendly risk management tools, tips, and techniques for a less certain world

Though a very high level of investor uncertainty, anxiety, and concern about risk now exists, the vast majority of investors do not genuinely understand investment risk-let alone how to effectively manage it. The Risk-Wise Investor offers a totally new, user-friendly, non-technical way to help you better understand and manage uncertainty and risk. This practical guide will help investors avoid many common pitfalls and make well informed, knowledge-based decisions when facing uncertainty and risk. It also shows how to implement a personalized, systematic risk management planning process that will allow you to manage the risks you face more effectively and improve the likelihood of achieving specific investment goals.

Though traditional investment advice is based on taking the long view and diversifying portfolios, the information here shows how to incorporate additional risk management considerations into your plans. The Risk-Wise Investor also provides innovative insights that will help investors and their advisors better understand how to:

• Gain a practical, user-friendly, knowledge based understanding of risk and risk management
• Better understand and manage financial uncertainty and rapid change
• Release life-risk management skills in the world of investments
• Become less anxious, more knowledgeable, realistic, and potentially more successful investors
• Learn a new "empowering" definition of risk to more effectively address risk and uncertainty
• Help reduce the likelihood and potential impact of negative surprises

Michael T. Carpenter is a true investment industry veteran, with over thirty-five years of professional experience. He has led industry programs at both Harvard and Columbia University. Carpenter has also worked as a successful financial advisor, then regional and national level executive with PaineWebber, and subsequently led national distribution efforts―including sales, sales support, and key accounts teams; product development, marketing, and national advisor and investor educational programs―for John Hancock Funds, as well as Transamerica IDEX, MFS, and Rydex Global Advisors before setting up his own Boston-based sales and marketing consulting firm in 2003.