The Reviews Are In for Gordon Murray's 'The Investment Answer' Book

"The Investment Answer" is Gordon Murray's gift to the casual investor.

Murray, a former Wall Street executive who passed away over the weekend after a lengthy battle with brain cancer, decided to co-author the book with friend and financial adviser Dan Goldie after learning that he only had six months to live.

His reason for writing the book? After years working in the upper echelons of the financial industry, Murray's outlook changed.

Murray became "convinced that he had it wrong throughout his career," according to The New York Times' Ron Lieber.

"After his retirement from banking, Mr. Murray became a client of Mr. Goldie and realized that attempting to outperform, say, the S&P 500 was a fool's game," Lieber explained. "You can beat the averages some of the time, but most people can't keep it up over the long haul."

The book, on shelves in hardcover on Jan. 25, has been hailed as a compact and clear route to understanding the investment process.

Surge Desk compiled a quick list of reviews for "The Investment Answer."

The Huffington Post's Mike Larsen:

"'The Investment Answer' is a mercifully short book that succinctly answers the major questions that most of us have when it comes to finances. While, sadly, the authors did not address my number one question in regards to my personal wealth -- 'When will Hollywood return to paying television writers in the high six figures like they did when I started my career?' -- they did cover just about everything else, including why it's foolish to handle your own investing, why it's better to have a financial adviser that works for you as opposed to a broker whose responsibility is to the firm, and what to make of the many investment alternatives out there."

Morningstar Advisor's W. Scott Simon:

"What kind of investment book would a person write who was a Wall Street insider for over 25 years? If you're thinking something like 'How I Became a Master of the Universe in Ten Easy Steps,' you would be wrong. At least if you're talking about Gordon Murray who, with co-author Dan Goldie, has given investors a real gift: the inside story of what investing truly is and how those who follow the prescriptions in their book, 'The Investment Answer,' can have a successful and positive investment experience."

CBS Money Watch's Dan Kadlec:

"This is stuff that a lot of us already know. But the book makes for a nice, concise reminder, and for many young people it would be a great primer that should convince them they have what it takes to invest confidently for their future -- starting now."

Yakezie's Barb Friedberg:

"For a 'basic' investing text, the material may be a bit complex. Although, for those who have graduated from Investing 101 as well as investors who are pondering whether to hire an adviser or not, 'The Investment Answer' is the solution. Investment advisers' secrets are revealed; a great way to get 'inside' information, that's legal."

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