Any good books for the non-beginner, but non-expert?

[ab3tx]

I've been lurking here for a while now, along with browsing websites and reading books and other research, trying to determine the best way to put "the plan" into effect. (I am referring to "the plan" as the the steps generally used to get oneself out from under the credit trap, and into financial freedom.)

While my "plan" is still in the stage of lowering credit balances, I have been trying to figure out what to do with my forthcoming emergency fund, and forward in time, how to save/invest my monies for the long-term/retirement stage.

I thought I had it figured out, and quite simply: (1) emergency fund to ING-style high-yield FDIC savings, (2) further savings/investments to a brokerage, Fidelity for example, where one can keep expenses and fees tolerable, and yet still have a broad mix of options such as stocks, bonds, a myriad of funds, and even banking-like cash control.

Then, all of a sudden, my eyes opened up to a whole range of other options, the I-bond thread caught my eye, I hear people talking about DRIPs and individual mutual fund companies as a roll-your-own brokerage. The list of options goes on seemingly forever, and everybody seems to have the "best" idea. My problem is that I thought I knew the options, but know I'm not even sure of how much I know!

Are there any books that could be used as a reference for the long term for someone who doesn't need "Dont carry balances on a credit card", but is unsure of how to place the newly found cash? I get tired of books that are 300 pages of the most simplistic items that could be condensed into 50 pages without all of the anecdotal fluff. I seem to get turned off just a few pages into every book I pick up. And while the web certainly has tons of advice, it seems too fragmented to trust as a reliable reference. I'm looking for someone to give me the ideas of a "mid-range" bucket with a few I-bonds and other items, or how to split up my retirement between this broker and this fund company. Do I need a financial advisor, a personal stockbroker, both or none? Here's why or here's why not. I don't need my hand held, but rather I am looking for a general guide to help me travel down road of freedom.

[baselle]

You're in learning phase, which is the beginning of the rest of your life. "Best" is what's best for you.

It sounds like you have the short term money (ING-esque account) and the long term money (mutual fund). Your plan needs ideas for the intermediate money and you need intermediate ideas and options, I guess.

My suggestion is to go and check out the Motley Fool, and go through their "Fools School" to get the bare bones of what is possible. they are not just stock; I heard about I-bonds from them. http://www.fool.com

Yes, I know its another website, but they are pretty organized and you'll hear names like Warren Buffett, Ben Graham, etc.

Another spot that might help you out is http://www.bankrate.com
They do have a mix of financial news and many of their financial columnists are picked up in the financial press.

[jeffrey]

<i>***Jeffrey dreaming of the day when someone asks the same question at Motley Fool or Bankrate and the response is to come to SavingAdvice***</i>

[baselle]

Originally Posted by jeffrey

<i>***Jeffrey dreaming of the day when someone asks the same question at Motley Fool or Bankrate and the response is to come to SavingAdvice***</i>

We'll have to make that happen.

[jeffrey]

Ah, now that's the spirit

[sweeps]

I'm not a big fan of personal finance books -- they tend to get out of date pretty quickly. Advice on reducing your taxes one year, for example, may be really bad advice for the next year.

I like to read personal finance magazines: Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Money, and SmartMoney (in that order of preference). They cover a wide array of topics.