Personal Finance Books

  1. The Wealthy Barber by David Chilton – A must read for any Canadian. Simple advice written like a novel teaches you the basics of financial planning.
  2. The Four Pillars of Investing by William Bernstein – Details the theory, history, psychology and the business of building a portfolio.
  3. The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John C. Bogle – A compelling argument for following the market through index funds, from the founder of Vanguard.
  4. Smart Couples Finish Rich by David Bach – A worthwhile read that encourages couples to discuss their finances.
  5. The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason – Originally written in the 1920′s, this book is written as a story to get people interested in their personal finances.
  6. Random Walk Down Wall Street by Burton Malkiel – An investment guide that will show you how to build your portfolio.
  7. The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley – An interesting book that shows how the majority of millionaires attain their wealth.
  8. The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham – While not an easy read, a must for anyone serious about investing, by the mentor to Warren Buffett.
  9. The Warren Buffett Way by Bill Miller – A great introduction to value investing.
  10. Stocks for the Long Run by Jeremy J. Siegel -  Shows the benefits of long-term investing in the stock market.
  11. The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach – Takes the usual “pay yourself first” strategy and adds the extra benefit of setting up your savings to happen automatically.
  12. 397 Ways To Save Money by Kerry K. Taylor – Hundreds of ways to save money from the blogger behind squawkfox.com.
  13. Triumph of the Optimists by Elroy Dimson – A wealth of investment data that aids in understanding stock valuations.
  14. Your Money Or Your Life by Vicki Robin – This book will change how you think about spending your money.
  15. The Investment Zoo by Stephen A. Jarislowsky – Goes against the conventional wisdom and makes a case for holding stocks throughout your retirement.
  16. 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget by The Writers of Wise Bread – Thousands of budget-stretching tips from the writers at wisebread.com.
  17. The Naked Investor by John Reynolds – Criticizes the investment industry for prioritizing their own wealth building over that of their clients.
  18. All About Asset Allocation by Richard Ferri – As the title suggests, this book shows you everything you need to know about having an asset allocation strategy.
  19. Spend Smarter Save Bigger by Margot Bai – An excellent book that covers the major personal finance topics that matter to Canadians.
  20. The Future for Investors by Jeremy J. Siegel – Uses history to show what investors should look for to receive a better return.
  21. Winning the Loser’s Game by Charles Ellis – Another worthwhile book about investing in index funds and not trying to beat the market.
  22. Unconventional Success by David F. Swensen – Praises low-cost index funds and ETFs over high MER mutual funds that reduce your wealth building opportunities.
  23. Tax Freedom Zone by Tim Cestnick – Easy to read book about tax saving strategies available to Canadians.
  24. The Pension Puzzle by Bruce Cohen – A book about pensions for Canadians, including CCP, OAS and employer pensions.
  25. Your Money and Your Brain by Jason Zweig – Explains how psychology effects our financial decisions.