William Thomason 
Make Money Work For You–Instead of You Working for It 
Lessons from a Portfolio Manager

An invaluable primer to the world of investing

Money Lessons from a Money Manager speaks directly to theindividual who wants to manage their own investment portfolio justlike a professional portfolio manager would. Written by portfoliomanager William Thomason, this comprehensive guide providesprofessional investment advice on how to identify, research andultimately purchase profitable investments. The book covers suchsubjects as fundamental analysis, understanding financialstatements and financial ratios, when to buy and sell, portfolioconstruction and various investment strategies that readers can useto manage their own money just like a professional portfoliomanager. Easy to read and informative, this book is a valuableresource for readers looking to take their first steps in the worldof professional portfolio management for themselves.

Table of Content

Foreword ix

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction 1

Chapter 1 Getting Started: Setting Goals, Choosing Investments, Getting Information 5

Chapter 2 Understanding Financial Statements: Analyze Companies Like a Financial Analyst 39

Chapter 3 Calculate a Company’s Expenses, Earnings, Financial Ratios, and Profit Margins 63

Chapter 4 Fundamental Analysis: Assessing the Value of Potential Investments 95

Chapter 5 How the Pros Know When to Buy 123

Chapter 6 Investing Strategies You Can Use to Know When to Buy 143

Chapter 7 Know When to Sell 185

Chapter 8 Portfolio Management 101: Putting It All Together 213

More Than Just a Glossary 257

About the Author 275

Index 277

About the author

WILLIAM E. THOMASON is a professional money manager who manages both traditional and alternative investments for his firm as its Chief Investment Officer. He currently serves on the board of three private companies, is a member of NASP (National Association of Securities Professionals), and is the founder of the Wall Street Wizards Urban Financial Literacy Program and The Wall Street West Financial Literacy Fund, a non-profit organization bringing financial literacy and career opportunities to urban youth. He also serves as a consultant to a $75 million Community Development Venture Capital Fund–investing in privately held inner-city businesses–and is a founding member of Urban Economy, a nonprofit membership network dedicated to fostering innovation in urban communities. Thomason has appeared in numerous financial publications such as Black Enterprise, Smart Money, Barron’s and the Wall Street Journal. He has also received numerous awards in acknowledgment of his professional and civic achievements. Thomason is a popular speaker and resides in the San Francisco Bay Area.