• Introduction
• Unit 1: Basic Building Blocks of Successful Financial Management
• Unit 2: Investing Basics
• Unit 3: Finding Money to Invest
• Unit 4: Ownership Investments
• Unit 5: Fixed-Income Investing
• Unit 6: Mutual Fund Investing
• Unit 7: Tax-Deferred Investments
• Unit 8: Investing Small Dollar Amounts

• Investing Tax-Deferred
• Buying Stocks
• Buying Fixed Income Investments
• Unit Investment Trusts
• Mutual Funds
• Summary
• Action Steps
• About the Author

• Unit 9: Getting Help: Investing Resources
• Unit 10: Selecting Financial Professionals
• Unit 11: Investment Fraud

• Study Guide
• Action Steps
• Monthly Investment Messages
• Glossary

Earlier units in this course have discussed specific types of investment products (e.g., mutual funds) and various investment prerequisites. Unfortunately, and erroneously, many people think that they need a substantial sum of money to start investing. This is simply not the case. The objective of this unit is to demonstrate that investing is possible, even on a "shoestring" budget. Investing can be done with as little as $25 (e.g., a U.S. savings bond), and a variety of investments (e.g., Treasury securities ($100 minimum purchase), unit investment trusts, and many mutual funds) are available for an initial outlay of $1,000 or less.

Once you’ve taken care of "the basics" (e.g., reduced household debt, purchased adequate insurance, and set aside an emergency reserve of at least 3 months’ expenses), you are ready to explore affordable investment options. This way, your money will earn a higher rate of return over time than a certificate of deposit or passbook savings account to help you achieve important financial goals. This unit will discuss investments that can be purchased for a thousand dollars or less and are suitable for beginning investors whose largest asset is their future earning ability.

Even saving $20 a week for retirement is much better than doing nothing. While this may not sound like a lot of money, over time it really adds up. At a 5% annual real rate of return, an investor would have $36,100 more than they would otherwise have in 20 years ($65,500 with a 10% return), according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute. In 30 years, the figures for 5% and 10% returns are $72,600 and $188,200, respectively, and, in 40 years, the figures are even more dramatic: $131,900 with a 5% return and $506,300 when $20 per week is invested to earn 10%. The take home message: small-dollar investments matter!