30-Minute Money Solutions: A Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Your Finances

Acknowledgments

Although my name is on the cover, many individuals contributed to the development of this book.

"Investors First" is one of Morningstar's core tenets, and I have Morningstar founder Joe Mansueto to thank for inspiring me to write a book that helps individuals make better financial decisions.

My crack in-house editing team of Christopher Davis, Susan Dziubinski, Don Phillips, and Gregg Wolper provided invaluable feedback on the content and tone of 30-Minute Money Solutions as well as moral support along the way. All are superb analysts and writers, and their thoughtful comments improved the content immeasurably.

Maureen Dahlen served as business and project manager for this book. Not only did she keep the project on track, but she also contributed many valuable insights on the book's contents.

Jennifer Gierat and Elizabeth Knapik copyedited 30-Minute Money Solutions, working into the wee hours to get the manuscript into shape. Christopher Cantore, Mollie Edgar, and Meghan Tweedie did a fabulous job designing the worksheets, tables, and figures that appear in the book and on its companion web site, www.morningstar.com/goto/30MinuteSolutions, all under a tight deadline and with their usual good humor. Matthew Butz and Jun Lin brought creativity and technical know-how to bear as we developed the book's companion web site.

The book also draws on the wisdom and research of many of Morningstar's foremost investment experts, notably managing director Don Phillips, chief of securities ...