This book won't waste your time. It explains the fundamentals leading to investment success while avoiding the all-too-common "dumbed-down" information that just tells readers what they already know. Sophisticated concepts like "marked-to-market" and "the snapback phenomenon" and "Modern Portfolio Theory" are some of the book's themes that can lead to confidence and success as investors. For retirees, the book's purpose is to provide a do-it-yourself course of action allowing for an "end-run" around the financial services industry with the latter's excessive costs --- costs that eat up what could otherwise have been more retirement income. Knowing how to effectively self-manage assets and implement a mix of cost-effective investments is a critical skill for retirees. Understanding and applying some simple basics will deliver the most on-going income while still combating the disasterous effects of inflation.