| | Introduction | p. xi |
| | The Choice Is Yours | p. 1 |
| | Setting Your Goals | p. 7 |
| | What's in My Bucket? | p. 11 |
| | Calculating the Costs of Goals | p. 18 |
| | Chapter Summary | p. 20 |
| | Naked In Front of the Mirror | p. 21 |
| | Stepping on the Financial Scales: Your Net Worth Statement | p. 23 |
| | Cash Flow: Your Financial Calorie Counter | p. 31 |
| | Facing Facts | p. 37 |
| | The Five Phases of Your Financial Life | p. 40 |
| | Keeping It Real | p. 50 |
| | Chapter Summary | p. 53 |
| | The Four Basic Food Groups | p. 54 |
| | Fruits and Vegetables: Cash and Liquid Equivalents | p. 56 |
| | Proteins and Carbs: Stocks | p. 64 |
| | A Smorgasbord of Stocks | p. 67 |
| | Dairy: Bonds | p. 73 |
| | Fats: Alternative Investments | p. 82 |
| | Chapter Summary | p. 84 |
| | Portion Control | p. 85 |
| | Asset Allocation: A Balance Between Risk and Reward | p. 89 |
| | Personal Risk Profile | p. 96 |
| | Caution for Couples | p. 101 |
| | Chapter Summary | p. 106 |
| | Going Shopping | p. 107 |
| | Packaged Investments | p. 109 |
| | Mutual Funds | p. 112 |
| | Separately Managed Accounts | p. 132 |
| | Exchange-Traded Funds | p. 134 |
| | Closed-End Funds | p. 138 |
| | Hedge Funds | p. 140 |
| | Variable Annuities | p. 142 |
| | Chapter Summary | p. 146 |
| | Banquet Or Simple Snack? It's Your Choice | p. 147 |
| | Determining Your Complexity Quotient | p. 148 |
| | Fast-Food Junkie Investor | p. 149 |
| | Convenience Food Connoisseur Investor | p. 151 |
| | Sophisticate Investor | p. 154 |
| | Gourmand Investor | p. 156 |
| | Chapter Summary | p. 157 |
| | Keeping Up | p. 158 |
| | Portfolio Review Process | p. 163 |
| | Headline Hannah | p. 167 |
| | Obsessive Olivia | p. 170 |
| | Anchored Annie | p. 172 |
| | Indecisive Iris | p. 173 |
| | Chapter Summary | p. 175 |
| | Protecting Yourself From Sabotage | p. 177 |
| | The First D: Disability | p. 180 |
| | The Second D: Dementia | p. 186 |
| | The Third D: Death | p. 188 |
| | The Fourth D: Destruction | p. 195 |
| | The Fifth D: Divorce | p. 200 |
| | Chapter Summary | p. 208 |
| | The Buddy System | p. 209 |
| | Selecting a Financial Adviser | p. 212 |
| | Starting the Search for an Adviser | p. 213 |
| | The Due Diligence Process | p. 215 |
| | Breaking Up Is Hard to Do | p. 229 |
| | Chapter Summary | p. 233 |
| | Passing It On | p. 234 |
| | Estate Planning | p. 235 |
| | Estate Tax Minimization | p. 242 |
| | Lifetime Gifting | p. 244 |
| | Estate-Planning Documents | p. 248 |
| | Irrevocable Trusts | p. 259 |
| | Special Considerations for Second Marriages | p. 263 |
| | Special Considerations for Unmarried or Nontraditional Couples | p. 265 |
| | Special Considerations for the Newly Divorced | p. 266 |
| | Special Considerations for Singles | p. 267 |
| | Special Considerations for Special-Needs Children | p. 268 |
| | Special Considerations for Pets | p. 268 |
| | Chapter Summary | p. 270 |
| | Some Closing Thoughts | p. 271 |
| | Appendix | p. 273 |
| | Glossary | p. 287 |
| | Acknowledgments | p. 305 |