Vanguard Plain Talk On Investing Review: Long Walks On the Beach Not Included

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Trite enough to make you die a little inside? I know. Hear me out.

The relationship we have with our money can be just as complicated as the relationships we have with real people. And what we say we want—stability and security, for example—isn't what we actually find appealing. Like so many people who crave attractive-but-unreliable sweeties, many people end up being swayed (financially) by the adrenalin rush of Jim Cramer, get-rich-quick schemes, and can’t-miss ground-floor "opportunities."

But money drama—just like relationship drama—rarely works out successfully. And that’s why Vanguard’s Plain Talk on Investing is a breath of fresh air in the world of investment and finance hucksters. Shouting may secure book deals and snake-oil salesmen might lure in suckers, but neither can promise good returns over time.

The fact is that the most reliable formula for achieving wealth is astonishingly simple:

Savings+Diversification+Time = Wealth

Every other smart thing you can learn about money is just a variation on that general theme.

Plain Talk helps tease out that formula through twice-a-month podcasts that help you understand the importance of regular savings, low expenses, and staying rational in turbulent times. The 6- to 12-minute episodes spell out everything you need to know in simple—but not simplistic—terms.

The shows are scripted and soothing, and while they occasionally mention Vanguard products, they're not heavy-handed. If these podcasts are sales pitches, they're very subtle ones.

If you and your money are finally looking to settle down, Vanguard’s Plain Talk on Investing will help make sure you treat each other right. This? Could be the start of a beautiful relationship.