Book excerpt: Stock-market crashes show how the world of high finance can negatively impact our daily life, but smart money reveals a two-way street where those savvy to the science of finance can take their personal wealth up a gear. What is a hedge fund? How best to understand private equity? What are the principles of investment? 30 Second Money balances key features of personal finance with those of the financial markets and economic concepts, explaining how mass monetary systems relate to one’s own money management choices. From basic concepts like risk and return to types of borrowing, investment, and risk management, everything is explained without jargon or complexity. This is the handbook that gives the reader an edge in any business conversation.