Book excerpt: Classic investment guidance for everyone As Chairman and CEO of one of the most respected mutual fund companies in the world, The Vanguard Group, Jack Brennan has made a career out of helping people invest for long-term success. In Straight Talk on Investing, he cuts to the chase and provides readers with sound advice and solid guidance to investing for today and tomorrow, in a bull market or bear market. Starting with a clear explanation of the financial facts of life, Brennan explains that investing is a lot easier than most people think. He shows readers how to develop a financial plan, construct and manage a sensible investment program, and maintain perspective in a sometimes crazy world. Refreshing in its simplicity and honesty, Straight Talk on Investing is a badly needed tonic to the hangover of the bull market of the 1990s. Filled with meaningful guidance for investors from a leading investment luminary, this invaluable resource will help readers make better investment decisions and restore financial faith in themselves, so they can confidently navigate the markets toward their financial goals. Jack Brennan (Wayne, PA) is the Chairman and CEO of The Vanguard Group, the world's second-largest mutual fund company, with $600 billion in assets under management and 15 million shareholder accounts. Mr. Brennan is a frequent guest on financial news programs and is regularly quoted in leading business and personal finance publications, including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. In 2000 and 2001, SmartMoney ranked him as one of the most influential individuals in investing. Marta McCave (Wayne, PA) is a senior financial writer for The Vanguard Group and a former journalist. She was a founding member of the national reporting staff of USA Today and was a contributor to a number of newspapers and magazines before joining Vanguard.