Give the gift of education
As Benjamin Franklin famously declared, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
For most market enthusiasts, we’re always looking for ways to improve our portfolio performance. The best way most of us can improve is by imitating the philosophies of some of the greatest investors of all time!
One of the best gift ideas you can give an avid market enthusiast is a book on investing!
There are thousands of books written on investing and finance. However, here are a few of the best that your investor or market enthusiast will LOVE.
1. The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham
Benjamin Graham is considered the “Father of Value Investing,” and Warren Buffett’s former professor and investment mentor. He literally wrote the book on picking stocks!
In the The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing. A Book of Practical Counsel (Revised Edition), the market enthusiast in your life will learn the principles that has shaped thousands of successful investors around the world!
The Intelligent Investor is the Bible for anyone looking to learn how to successfully pick undervalued stocks.
2. Security Analysis: Sixth Edition, Foreword by Warren Buffett by Benjamin Graham
Another investing gem, Security Analysis by Benjamin Graham dives deeper into analyzing stocks and picking successful investments.
Graham draws from decades of research during his time at Columbia University. His book, Security Analysis will teach the investor in your life HOW to analyze potential investment opportunities!
Don’t worry – it’s not as dry as a textbook, but this book is great for investors looking to take their investing game to the next level!
3. Beating the Street by Peter Lynch
One of the most successful investors of all time, Peter Lynch spent decades beating the overall returns of the stock market.
During his 13-year tenure managing the Fidelity Magellan Fund, Lynch’s returns averaged 29.2% per year. That’s more than double the returns of the S&P 500!
In his book Beating the Street, Lynch outlines how individual investors can see similar results just like him!
The investor in your life will absolutely love learning how to implement Lynch’s philosophies on investing and picking stock in companies that they know.
4. The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder
What investor doesn’t adore Warren Buffett?
However, Buffett has always valued his privacy, choosing to keep a rather low profile rather than spend his wealth on extravagent purchases. This frugality and humble persona adds to the mystique of the greatest investor of all time!
However, in her book The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life, Schroeder is granted unparalleled access to the greatest stock market wizard of all time.
Don’t worry though, this book is not dense with numbers, formulas, and metrics! Instead, Schroeder keeps it simple – just like her subject would appreciate! She brings readers into the world and upbringing that shaped the philosophies Buffett used to build his multi-billion dollar empire.
The investor in your life would be entertained for hours reading about the most respected investor of all time.
5. Stocks for the Long Run by Jeremy Siegel
Buy the stock in a basket of great companies and hold on a long time!
While it may be simple advice, this strategy is rarely implemented by traders and novice investors.
In his book Stocks for the Long Run, Wharton professor Jeremy Siegel explains how a diversified stock portfolio is the greatest wealth-building tool to maximize long-term returns.
He outlines his research (dating back hundreds of years) analyzing stock returns versus other assets such as gold, cash, bonds, and real estate. Care to know the results?
You guessed it! Stocks outperform all other asset classes over long periods of time. The analytical investor in your life will love learning stock market history and why stocks are the best asset class to invest in for long-term growth.
6. The Little Book on Common Sense Investing by Jack Bogle
Founder of the ultra-low-cost brokerage firm Vanguard, the late Jack Bogle redefined how ordinary investors gain access to the markets.
Not only did Bogle pioneer low-cost index funds, his company brought down the cost of investing and bridged the gap between “Main Street” and “Wall Street.”
In his book The Little Book on Common Sense Investing, Bogle explains how and why index funds provide a wonderful way to gain instant diversification in your portfolio. Often, those who choose to index passively will even outperform those who choose to pick stocks!
After reading Bogle’s book, the investor in your life will probably want to passively invest in low-cost index fund – at least for a portion of their portfolio.
7. The Book on Rental Property Investing: How to Create Wealth With Intelligent Buy and Hold Real Estate Investing by Brandon Turner
Looking to add diversity to your portfolio or just have an interest in cash flowing real estate?
Brandon Turner, the host of the BiggerPockets Real Estate podcast, outlines proven strategies to win with real estate.
Turner introduces newbie real estate investors to how to get started in real estate – regardless of how much you have saved. He explains how real estate can be a wonderful path to financial freedom and long-term, generational wealth!
In The Book on Rental Property Investing: How to Create Wealth With Intelligent Buy and Hold Real Estate Investing, Turner outlines popular real estate strategies including “house hacking” and his famed “BRRRR” strategy.
Any investor interested in investing in real estate would love reading this book!
8. A Random Walk Down Wall Street by Burton Malkiel
Another timeless stock market classic, A Random Walk Down Wall Street should be a staple in any market enthusiast’s library.
Written by Princeton economist Burton Malkiel, his book examines the subject of stock markets and his random walk hypothesis. He argues that asset prices typically exhibit signs of a random walk. Therefore, beating the market is extraordinarily difficult to accomplish.
Those interested in the efficient-market hypothesis would love taking a random walk with Burton!
9. Liar’s Poker and Flash Boys by Michael Lewis
Michael Lewis has written some of the best selling business books of his generation.
He outlines his first-hand experiences from his time behind the desk with some of the most iconic figures on Wall Street at the time.
His books Liar’s Poker and Flash Boys offer insight to the world of Wall Street that would be of anyone interested in business, investing, and stock markets
All of these books are wonderfully entertaining and educational! The investor in your life will love diving into these books to enhance their business knowledge.
10. How about a fun stock market game for the whole family?
One of the biggest draws of investing is the thrill of “the game.” Investing and picking undervalued assets can be quite the hunt. When successful investments are realized, it can be quite the rush!
This Stock Exchange Game – NEW 2nd Edition would be a great way to combine their love for investing with family fun!
Another popular and timeless money game, Monopoly Ultimate Banking Board Game would be sure to create hours of family-friendly fun!
If Monopoly may be too much of a time commitment for your busy family, consider the board game Pay Day! First launched in 1975, Payday offers a great way to socialize with your family and teach the kids financial principles.
The investor in your life is sure to enjoy the hours of family fun playing these market-inspired or financial games. Maybe, they’ll even be able to pass down some financial principles that they’ve learned over the years!
11. Bull statue for display
This Bronze Electroplated Resin Bull & Bear Sculpture Statue would look great on any financial advisor, investor, or businessperson’s home or office desk!
The status is more than just a paper weight. It represents every investors’ hope for the stock market – that the bulls will prevail over the bears!
12. Massage Gun
One of the curses of working in the business world or committing the time to learn about finance is the sedimentary lifestyle.
Those of us in the business world don’t get the opportunity to see much sunlight or move around during the day. This can lead to muscle stiffness, soreness, and even pain. However, regular stretching and self care can go a long way to alleviate some of this discomfort!
After a long day of reading about stocks or sitting at their desk, this rechargable Massage Gun that has 20 vibration speeds can provide professional-level therapy to help relieve shoulder, neck and back pain.
What investor who spends hours reading reports and research wouldn’t love to have this handy?
13. Spruce up their office or home with a little investing decor!
Wall art and decor is another great gift idea for investors.
This framed picture depicts an investor wrestling the proverbial bull – a perfect image for what investors go through on a daily basis!
Perhaps, they’ll appreciate this framed print of the famed Wall Street.
Even if they’ve never been to the New York Stock Exchange, they can display this Wall Street photo art on their own walls!
Your investor may not appreciate art or have any sense of style. However, they’ll more than likely love these pieces that display their passion for investing!
All of these gift ideas would be wonderful presents for the investor or stock market enthusiast in your life!