Own The World: How Smart Investors Create Global Portfolios

Global investing isn't new. In fact, investors have been looking to overseas markets for hundreds of years, and with good reason. A global portfolio can bestow innumerable rewards on the savvy investor, yet many US investors remain woefully under-exposed to foreign equities. Despite the fact that US equity markets make up less than half of world markets, only a small portion of our investment dollars are allocated overseas. Even the most sophisticated investors have been deterred by misconceptions about the risks associated with owning foreign stocks or a lack of information about foreign markets. But the notion investment options are limited by borders is antiquated and downright detrimental to successful investing.
Once considered the playground of only the ultra-rich or institutional investors, global investing is fast becoming not only possible, but a necessity, for every investor. As part of Fisher Investments Press, Own the World introduces readers to the vast advantages of seeking investment opportunities all over the planet. Own the World provides investors with tools to build a global portfolio and points out potential hurdles to avoid. It also educates readers on the nuts and bolts of foreign markets, how to easily understand them, and vehicles for investing there. By detailing the vast and currently underappreciated benefits of global investing and the distinct advantages of a global approach, as well as common pitfalls to avoid, Own the World can help readers to tread more confidently into global markets as they look to optimize their investment results.

Aaron Anderson is a Capital Markets Research Analyst at Fisher Investments where he focuses on global macroeconomic and market trends. He holds BS degrees in geophysics from the University of California, Santa Barbara and applied economics from the University of San Francisco. Anderson writes a regular column for MarketMinder.com titled "The Global View", and instructs at investing seminars nationally. He and his wife Kim reside in Danville, California. They enjoy traveling (and investing) all over the world.

Preface.
Acknowledgments.
Chapter 1. Who Needs a Global Investment Portfolio?
The Most Important Question.
Home Sweet Home Bias.
We're Not Alone Out There.
Global Isn't International.
Chapter 2. Not as Foreign as You Think.
Made in the USA.
A Day in the Life.
Chapter 3. Getting More for Less: Return Enhancement and Risk Management.
Risk and Return: The Dynamic Duo.
Keep Your Eye on the Globe.
Chapter 4. The Global Landscape.
An Economic Perspective.
What's Your GDP Worth?
Taking Stock . . . Globally.
Industry Classification.
Chapter 5. Top-Down Investing.
Are You Down for Bottom-Up or Up for Top-Down?
Top-Down Is Tops.
The Top-Down Process.
Step One: Asset Allocation.
Step Two: Sub-Asset Allocation.
Step Three: Stock Picking.
Chapter 6. Four Steps to Investing Success.
Step 1: Choose a Benchmark.
Step 2: Analyze the Benchmark’s Components and Assign Expected Risk and Return.
Step 3: Blend Dissimilar Investments to Moderate Risk Relative to Return.
Step 4: Always Remember You Could Be Wrong, So Don't Stray From the First Three Rules.
Chapter 7. I'm Convinced . . . Now Tell Me How.
Who Doesn't Want More Time and Money?
Mutual Funds.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs).
Depository Receipts.
Ordinary Shares.
Chapter 8. The Currency Effect.
The Almighty Dollar, Euro, Pound, Ringgit, Baht . . .
Currency Trivia.
Wrangling Exchange Rates.
Currencies and Your Global Portfolio.
What's a Global Investor to Do?
Currency Strategies.
Trading Currencies (If You Dare).
Chapter 9. Common Challenges in Global Investing.
Volatility Happens.
Political Risk.
Risks, Risks, and More Risks.
Notes.
About the Author.
Index.