How to Be a Rich Old Lady: Your Guide to Easy Investing, Building Wealth, and Creating the Wild, Beautiful Life You Want

Former investment manager Holden debuts with a sharp and funny guide for women on investing and building wealth. The financial system is designed to be exclusive and confusing, Holden contends, and women, who on average make less than men and get saddled with the majority of household labor, are rarely set up to navigate it. Here, she lays out steps toward financial independence, or “having enough invested so you can live independent from a paycheck.” Readers are shown how to establish a strong financial foundation by creating an emergency fund to prepare for unforeseen events like job loss and developing a personalized budget by first studying one’s spending habits. Then, Holden explains the different types of retirement accounts, like 401(k)s and Roth IRAs. A significant portion of the book is dedicated to investing, offering insights on everything from stocks and bonds to market crashes. Elsewhere, Holden delves into ethical investing, cryptocurrency, homeownership, and investing for one’s children. She pairs actionable advice (“Don’t wait until you’ve paid off all debt to start retirement investing!”) with endearing, often humorous personal reflections, like how she realized the Hervé Léger bandage dress she longed for in 2009 wasn’t quite the timeless “investment piece” she imagined it to be. Readers will feel equipped and inspired to live their best lives. (Jan.)