This is the season when high school and college seniors don caps and gowns to mark an important milestone in their educations. These students furthered their knowledge and understanding in a range of subjects and fields, and I’d like to add to that knowledge base by sharing some insights about investing.
Indeed, if I had the opportunity to give a commencement speech on the topic, I’d offer up the following advice. Most of this is based on More Straight Talk on Investing, a recently published book I had the privilege of working on with former Vanguard CEO Jack Brennan. Here are my remarks, and I’ll follow the sage advice of Franklin Delano Roosevelt by being sincere, being brief, and being seated.