I’ve read a lot of personal finance and investing books over the years. Most were good, some were great… and almost all of them were written by men—typically older men.
Now, I’m not knocking men—far from it! I’ve learned so much from these writers. I wouldn’t be where I’m at financially if not for the experience and knowledge shared by them.
They’ve made important contributions to the financial lives of my family and countless others. For that, I’m eternally grateful.
But women are different
Women see and experience the world differently, and we handle our finances differently. So it’s really refreshing to come across female voices in this male-dominated space.
My new favourite personal finance book, The Sassy Investor, is not only refreshingly feminine, but also informative and educational. Scroll down to read my full detailed review.
Disclosures
- A copy of this book was provided to me free of charge by the author, Michelle Hung. However, I only recommend books and products that I truly believe in. All opinions in this review are genuine and my own.
- This review includes links to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases—at no extra cost to you.
The Sassy Investor—my review
I came across The Sassy Investor when author Michelle Hung offered a review copy in a Canadian bloggers’ Facebook group I’m part of.
I almost disregarded Michelle’s message as it’s become increasingly difficult for me to find time to read books these days. But Michelle’s photos pulled me in—The Sassy Investor didn’t look like any other finance book I’d ever seen!
Intrigued, I messaged Michelle to tell her I’d love to review the book—and I’m so glad I did. I absolutely loved The Sassy Investor, and highly recommend it.
Here’s why:
It’s just so different
I’ve never come across another personal finance book like this. It’s SO different. The Sassy Investor is gorgeous, fun, and, well, sassy! (That’s not a description I’d use for any other personal finance book!)
It’s beautifully illustrated and designed, and clearly a labor of love. As a graphic designer, I give it five out of five stars just for the esthetics. But I’d never recommend a book based solely on prettiness. It’s got to have some substance… and The Sassy Investor definitely delivers on that.
The writing’s excellent
Michelle’s writing is conversational, fun, and so engaging. It’s never too high-level (unlike many investing books). The Sassy Investor makes personal finance and investing simple but not dumbed-down.
The writing is also perfectly concise. While the book covers a lot of ground, I was able to read it in just over two hours. Michelle does an amazing job of teaching you exactly what you need to know without being wordy.
It’s more than a book
This isn’t a book you just skim through then stick on your shelf. It’s an interactive workbook that’s fun and interesting to fill out. Unlike most books (finance or otherwise) you’ll actually enjoy filling out the worksheets. They’re short, clear, and mostly very quick to fill.
Bonus: They’re also display-worthy and pretty enough to stick up around your house! You could also leave the pages intact and keep the book as a beautiful memento. (Imagine how fun it’ll be to flip through it in a decade, and see how far you’ve come!)
It’s suitable for a wide audience
While The Sassy Investor is geared to younger females, don’t let that deter you! If you can embrace the pink perfection, you’ll still benefit. Here’s how:
- The info’s mostly gender-neutral. You’ll learn a lot—no matter your gender.
- Michelle’s Canadian, but she’s written the book for Americans too. Terms, accounts, and products are referred to by their names on both sides of the border.
- While the book’s written for beginners, those of us who are more experienced can still learn a thing or two. I’m a relatively knowledgeable DIY investor, but The Sassy Investor still deepened and expanded my knowledge.
It’s FI-friendly
Michelle’s asset allocation and portfolio recommendations are FI-friendly. They line up nicely with how most of us in the FI community invest.
I applaud Michelle for straying from mainstream advice and recommending 100% equities until at least age 45. I’m totally behind this, and wish more experts would advise young people this way.
It’s comprehensive and easy to follow
The Sassy Investor is packed with info, but you’ll never feel overwhelmed. That’s because it’s laid out in a clear, easy-to-follow process. Michelle starts with the basics, then works up to more advanced topics:
- Personal finance (income, getting out of debt, saving, budgeting)
- Investing (stocks, bonds, indexing, planning, execution, taxes)
- Valuations
You just need to read along and fill in the fun worksheets as you go. Before you know it, you’ll be on your way to a more secure financial future.
It’s got the best ‘how to place a stock trade’ instructions
This one diagram typifies everything that The Sassy Investor does differently. Seriously—have you ever seen better instructions for placing a stock trade? The instructions are clear, to-the-point, and oh-so fun!
The only part that didn’t appeal to me
As you can tell, I loved The Sassy Investor. But there was one part that didn’t appeal to me, and that was the valuations section. However, that’s only because I’m not at a place in my financial life where I need this kind of knowledge.
This section’s actually very well-written and informative, and a must-read if you’re planning to do any of the following:
- Buy individual stocks.
- Buy a house.
- Look for an investor for your business.
The info might not be useful to me right now, but I still read through it. I found it easy to understand, and I now know more about valuations than I ever have!
Summary
- The beautiful graphics and illustrations in The Sassy Investor immediately set it apart from any other finance book.
- It’s more than just pretty! The Sassy Investor’s also informative and very well-written. Michelle Hung makes complex, boring concepts approachable—and even fun!
- While the book’s targeted at young women, investors of any gender and level of financial knowledge can still benefit. (I’m a seasoned DIY investor, and The Sassy Investor helped to deepen my investment knowledge.)
- Readers will also enjoy the pretty and useful worksheets. Not only are they fun, but they serve an important purpose: by putting pen to paper, you’re helping to internalize your newly-gained knowledge.
- This book is perfect as a gift for a new graduate or a pretty keepsake/reference book for yourself.
The Sassy Investor book giveaway!
Author Michelle Hung has generously offered two copies of The Sassy Investor as a giveaway* to my readers! Enter to win a copy by using the form below.
And the winners are…
Hooray! I’ve picked two random winners (using Rafflecopter’s Random.org tool):
1. Abigail @ipickuppennies
2. Lori W.
Congratulations Abigail and Lori! I’ll be in touch to get your contact info and have your very own copies of The Sassy Investor sent your way.
For everyone else who entered—thank you for participating. I hope you’ll consider purchasing the book for yourself or a loved one. You could change their financial life!
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13 Comments
PhiaFreedom101
May 13, 2019 at 1:56 pmHey Chrissy! This sounds like a book I will definitely have to check out! I love seeing new finance content coming onto the shelves that isn’t the same old – same old!
Of particular note, I love the explanation of how to enter the fields for your first stock purchase! I remember the first time I filled one out and all I could say was “Huh?!” followed by……”Hon……how does this work?”. LOL! I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone put together a how to on that, and its genius, because when you are just starting out it’s most definitely not obvious!
Love the review – thanks for sharing. My fingers are crossed for a copy 😉
Chrissy
May 13, 2019 at 3:45 pmThis book definitely isn’t the same-old same-old!
And you’re so right about the stock trading instructions. That’s got to be the most intimidating thing for new DIY investors. It’s so easy to make a mistake with a simple stroke of the keyboard!
GYM
May 15, 2019 at 11:08 pmWow nice graphics! The illustrations look really nice. 🙂
Chrissy
May 16, 2019 at 12:02 pmThey’re the best! Clearly, a lot of work went into the book.
Darlene DR Rancourt
May 16, 2019 at 6:12 amI’m always interested in reading new books about investing! This one looks so cute.
Chrissy
May 16, 2019 at 12:01 pmIt’s super-cute! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you. 🙂
Paul and Jodi
May 18, 2019 at 4:44 pmHello,
This could be perfect timing…
I recently had to open a brokerage account but I’m still very uncertain about self directed investment accounts. I feel like I’m jumping head first into the unknown …and it’s SCARY! I haven’t found a book that explains investing clearly.
My fingers are crossed that I win this book giveaway!
Chrissy
May 19, 2019 at 9:32 pmHi Jodi and Paul— it sounds like ‘The Sassy Investor’ would be perfect for you. Thanks for commenting, and good luck! 🙂
Abigail @ipickuppennies
May 22, 2019 at 8:04 amI’m not generally interested in investing books, since I don’t currently have the money to invest for myself — just my retirement, which I let Vanguard do. But I’m hoping to hit the point of having some extra funds in the next few months, so I suppose I should get on this. The book definitely sounds intriguing! The fact that it’s not written at too high a level (I’m essentially clueless about investing) is definitely alluring.
Chrissy
May 23, 2019 at 8:09 amHi Abigail—this is definitely one of the best beginner-friendly investing books I’ve come across. (But it’s not lightweight either.) Best of luck with the giveaway!
Lori
May 23, 2019 at 9:57 amThis book looks great! I have a few investment books at home, but mostly I read them when I visit the bookstore. It’s great that there’s a new, accessible one with a Canadian woman’s perspective! I can’t wait to read it (whether I win or not)!
Chrissy
May 23, 2019 at 10:20 pmHi Lori, thanks for your comment. It really is a unique book and could help so many women get more comfortable with their investments. I like that you’ll find a way to read it whether you win or not. Ha ha. 😁 Good luck!
Cassandra D
May 28, 2019 at 8:48 pmI would like to win this book and learn more about investments