Did your investments take a hit in the recession? You're not alone. Between 2007 and mid-year 2009, the average 401K lost 31 per cent of its value. Ouch. It's time to take control of your investments with "Personal Investing: The Missing Manual". Financial experts agree that with the right guidance, consumers can make investments better than many professionals. This lively and easy-to-understand guide gives you the confidence, tools, and insight you need to evaluate financial products and make smart investments that target success over the long term. You'll learn how to set long-term goals for critical, high-cost events such as retirement, your children's education, and future health care needs. Then you'll learn what types of investments will best help you achieve those goals. In step-by-step fashion, this book shows you how to research mutual funds, stocks, bonds, and other financial products to create a portfolio of diversified investments. Get crystal-clear, practical advice from personal finance expert Bonnie Biafore, author of Missing Manuals on the Quicken personal-finance program and QuickBooks business finance program. Understand why you need to invest - Biafore shows you how savings accounts simply won't outpace inflation or give you the returns you need for long-term goals. Learn how to evaluate and buy traditional investments, such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Discover lesser-known investments, such as index funds and exchange-traded funds, which cost you less and provide more tax advantages. Choose the best funds offered by your employer for your 401K, and learn how to get the greatest tax advantages.