Smart and Simple Financial Strategies for Busy People

Financial maven Quinn's upbeat audio helps busy people put their finances on autopilot with fairly foolproof action plans. Whether she is touting the benefits of repaying a mortgage early, heralding the marvelous innovation of the automatic payroll deduction or encouraging the purchase of index funds, Quinn's attitude is professional and motivational. Her voice suggests that she does not brook fools gladly (witness her clear disapproval for get-rich-quick schemes and the too-good-to-be-true "option ARM" mortgage), but any schoolmarmish moments are balanced by the performance's overall can-do attitude and encouraging tone. While it remains to be seen how effective personal finance advice is on audio—it's an inconvenient way to retrieve specific information when you need it quickly—Quinn does her best to overcome the medium's limitations, carefully spelling the addresses of financial Web sites and repeating important telephone numbers. While the print version of this book is clearly divided into helpful sections (buying a home, planning for retirement, saving for college, etc.), listeners have a harder time locating various topics because the audio package contains no information on locating them. Despite such hassles, this is a lively rendition of Quinn's trademark intelligent, sensible advice. Simultaneous release with the S&S hardcover (Reviews, Jan. 9). (Jan.)