About the Author
Matt Krantz is a financial journalist who specializes in investing topics. He has been an editor and writer since 1994. Since 2018, at Dow Jones’s Investor’s Business Daily, he has edited and written about financial markets and Wall Street, concentrating on developments affecting individual investors and their portfolios. Prior to that, Krantz was a stock market reporter for USA TODAY for nearly two decades.
Krantz has written or cowritten four books in addition to this one, including Investing Online For Dummies, Investment Banking For Dummies, Retirement Planning For Dummies, and Mint.com For Dummies, all published by Wiley.
In addition to covering markets for USA Today, Matt wrote an online investing column called “Ask Matt” in which he answered questions posed by the website’s audience in an easy-to-understand manner.
Matt has been investing since the 1980s and has studied dozens of investment techniques while forming his own. And as a financial journalist, Matt has interviewed some of the most famous and infamous investment minds in modern history.
Matt earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He has spoken for investing groups, including at the national convention of National Association of Investors Corporation, and has appeared on financial TV. Matt is based in Dow Jones’s Los Angeles office. When he’s not writing, he’s spending time with his wife and young daughter, running, playing tennis, mountain biking, or playing Xbox games.
Dedication
This book is dedicated to my wife, Nancy, who has helped me do my best, my parents for urging me to do my best, my grandparents for inspiring me to do my best, and my daughter, Leilani, for giving me a reason to do my best.
Author’s Acknowledgments
Taking on a project of the size and scope of this book would have been overwhelming without the help of key people along the way. My wife, Nancy, is always there ready with an encouraging pat or a suggestion for the perfect word that is eluding me. Steve Minihan, a financial advisor and professor for UCLA Extension, has provided invaluable instruction and analysis skills. Fane Lozman shared his options expertise. David Trainer of New Constructs provided his expertise. Thanks to S&P Global Market Intelligence and Morningstar for providing data for the book.
The team at Wiley has also been very supportive, including Kelsey Baird, acquisitions editor; Elizabeth Kuball, editor; and Julie Mak, technical editor. And again, a big thanks to Matt Wagner, my literary agent, for letting me know about this opportunity. Thanks to the family at Investor’s Business Daily, including editors Chris Gessel and Susan Warfel, for encouraging me.
Finally, I want to thank my parents for giving me the tools and determination to pursue my interests in writing and investing. My mom and dad taught all their kids that they could achieve their goals if they always did their best and never stopped trying to get even better. My grandparents are models of the long-term success I continue to strive for.
Publisher’s Acknowledgments
Acquisitions Editor: Tracy Boggier
Editor: Elizabeth Kuball
Technical Editor: Julie Mak
Production Editor: Tamilmani Varadharaj
Cover Image: © Olena_T/Getty Images