Financial Summer Reading List

Whether you are jet setting off to an exotic location or planning a “staycation” with your friends and family, the extended time away from the office may allow for an enjoyable, and educational, reading break this season.

With that in mind, our executives have compiled a list of summer reading suggestions—financial books that have stood out to them over the years and titles that they hope you will enjoy as much as they have.

Todd Douds, Senior VP, Research and Operations

“Expected Returns: An Investor’s Guide to Harvesting Market Rewards,” Antti Ilmanen

This book, which was published in 2011, reviews asset allocation strategies and provides readers with a comprehensive look at investment opportunities and behavioral theories. This is a great technical book that weighs in on risk perspectives and market returns, however it is not a “light read” and is more comparable to a textbook. Given the rich details and information on the drivers of asset class performance, we’d recommend this to investment savvy readers.

“Mastering the Rockefeller Habits: What You Must Do to Increase the Value of Your Growing Firm,” Verne Harnish

Released in 2002, Verne Harnish’s “Mastering the Rockefeller Habits” outlines business best practices and strategic plans to strengthen the culture and management values of companies. We used the core concepts of this book when we recently revamped our internal strategic plan. I would recommend this easy read book to any business owner or senior executive.

Charlie Smith, Principal and Chief Investment Officer

“Flash Boys,” Michael Lewis

Causing quite the stir among investors and the financial media a few months ago, Michael Lewis’ “Flash Boys” highlights high-frequency trading (HFT) and the potential rigging of the US stock market. The book is very interesting and certainly sheds light on the issues surrounding HFT, however we recommend readers’ not take the story too literally, in that our current stock market system is much more well-defined and any failures that HFT represent, only capture the last 1 percent of cost reductions for investors.

Kim Forrest, VP and Senior Analyst

“Financial Shenanigans,” Howard Schilit

As one of my favorite financial books, “Financial Shenanigans” spotlights accounting fraud that is impacting Wall Street. The book, by author Howard Schilit, provides techniques and tools for readers to use in uncovering misleading valuations and financial reports from companies.