Nerd out with us — what we’re reading & watching

Bulls, bears, stocks, bonds… The blaring business news headlines are hard to miss, but did you know that just 58% of Americans actually own stock? This number is even lower for women and people of color. Financial literacy and good money habits are key to building wealth, which can help close economic gaps. We hope this list and our weekly newsletter provide you with a place to start. Don’t forget to pass it along to any friends you think would benefit. Happy learning!

Books

Personal Finance and Investing Basics

​​Broke Millennial Takes On Investing by Erin Lowry — Nearly a decade ago, Lowry started a blog chronicling her personal finance journey. Since then she’s published three self-help books on the subject. The second in her “Broke Millennial” series answers all the investing questions you may have been afraid to ask and more.

The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham — One of the most influential books on investing, it introduces beginners to the fundamental rules for long-term success in the stock market. Graham taught at Columbia Business School, where one of his students and mentees was none other than billionaire Warren Buffett.

The Memo: Five Rules for Your Economic Liberation by John Hope Bryant — Pick up a copy of this book if you’re looking for inspiration and a simple plan to start taking control of your finances. Bryant is a FWIW Advisory Board member.

A Random Walk Down Wall Street by Burton G. Malkiel — Over 1.5 million copies have been sold of this investing classic, which has been updated to include the author’s recommendations on topics like cryptocurrencies.

The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel — Through some fantastic storytelling, Housel delves into how our approach to money and the way we think about it can shape our finances. The author is a partner at Collaborative Fund and a former columnist at The Motley Fool and The Wall Street Journal.

Bad with Money: The Imperfect Art of Getting Your Financial Sh*t Together by Gaby Dunn — Buzzfeed alum and podcaster Dunn was $32,000 in debt and very stressed about money before she transformed her life by confronting her problems head on. With simple language and plenty of humorous anecdotes, she explains all she learned.

Socially Responsible Investing

Activate Your Money: Invest to Grow Your Wealth and Build a Better World by Janine Firpo — Geared towards women, this book offers practical and actionable advice for aligning different asset classes with your values. The official website serves as a companion to the book with more resources, training opportunities, and updates.

GIVE: How to Manage Your Money and Make a Difference by Rebecca Orlowitz David — A guide to investing for a better world that has received praise from the CEOs of two of our favorite non-profits in this space, As You Sow and JUST Capital. The author is a veteran of several impact investment advisory firms and a board member for UNICEF.

Podcasts

NPR’s Planet Money — Breaking down what’s going on in the economy at the moment and how it affects you. Bonus: Listener questions.

Dollars and Change — A podcast from Wharton’s Social Impact Initiative with lots of inspirational and educational interviews with CEOs and leaders who prioritize profits and purpose. We are particularly fond of the latest edition, featuring FWIW founder Jean Case.

MSCI’s ESG Now — Tune in weekly for analysis on all the biggest news in sustainable business practices and investing. A must-listen for the FWIW team.

ESG Insider from S&P Global — A podcast from S&P that provides in-depth analysis of key environmental, social and governance issues, often with the help of interviews with leaders in these areas.  

Inside the ICE House — Hear directly from company leaders and financial experts on this podcast produced by the owner and operator of the New York Stock Exchange.

HerMoney with Jean Chatzky — The award-winning personal finance journalist talks to expert guests about everything money, with a special focus on women.

Videos

Why Investing for Social Impact is Growing So Fast — A Bloomberg TV discussion on why the next generation of investors has a strong interest in investing in line with their values.

Adding Social Issues to the Corporate Balance Sheet — FT’s animated videos continue to be great explainers of complicated issues.

Making the World Better Through Investing — A Barron’s conversation on how to drive positive social and environmental outcomes alongside market returns.

Interested in more reading, listening and video suggestions? Check out our NerdOut With Us - What We’re Reading and Watching list, where you will find lots of cool and informative options to consider for your headphones, eyes, or bedside table.