All About Asset Allocation (ISBN 0071429581)

Perfect explanation of Asset Allocation:
Just before reading Richard Ferri's "All About Asset Allocation" I had read William Bernstein's two books on the same topic, "The Intelligent Asset Allocator", and "The Four Pillars of Investing" (both really excellent). Compared to the broad reaching Bernstein books, which bring in a lot of examples from stock market history in explaining Asset Allocation, the Ferri book is a straight up text book, clear, spare but complete, and really well done. It really helped to hone my understanding of the topic. After reading it I also purchased his book on Index Funds.

Great book:
This book does a fine job of explaining asset allocation and the fundamental concepts that build a diversified porfolio. Asset allocation is explained very well in relation to portfolio diversification and how rebalancing is essentially the way to increase gains. It explains very well that asset allocation is all about risk management and there is no one size fits all though we can still markup broad categories of similar investor behavior. Market timing is about making a killing by buying in low and selling high however it involves uncertainty given everyone shares similar market information. Rebalancing is market timing without having to chase the market, its buying low and selling high passively though. All in all, great read and beneficial for all. Lot of practical advice. Its good it came out after the early 2000 tech-stock bubble bursts so it presents the grim reality of investing when your financial plan does not manage its risk and assets.

wasn't impressed:
All these long term returns people give in regards to stocks, bonds, gold and such do not involve active management but instead take a buy and hold strategy. So why follow a theory of regression to the mean the author suggest on page 36 in asset allocation. Why increase your expenses every year by selling some of your top performing sectors and use that money to buy into the poor performing sectors. This strategy seems like market timing set on automatic and we all know that it's very hard to time the market consistently. Index funds that beat most funds don't market time. They work by being fully invested in the asset class, they have a long term buy and hold view, and they keep expenses and taxes low. You can get basic asset allocation info for free from Vanguard's website which also offers target date retirement funds for those who want to use asset allocation the simple way.

One of the best books I ever read:
I love reading investment books, but often get bogged down with basic 101 investing advice...pay yourself first, dollar cost average, live below your means etc. Thhis book was like taking a professional course on how and why to diversify you portfolio. Simply put it was on of the best books I ever read. Thank you Rickard Fenni!!!! John K

Learn all about allocating your eggs...the right way.:
Picked up another great book by Richard Ferri and this one's well worth the investment.