The Motley Fool Investment Guide: How the Fools Beat Wall Street’s Wise Men and How You Can Too by Tom Gardner

PART I
WHO, WHAT, WHY, AND HOW

1

“FOOL”?
Take heed . . . The wise may be instructed by a fool . . . You know how by the advice and
counsel and prediction of fools, many kings, princes, states, and commonwealths have
been preserved, several battles gained, and divers doubts of a most perplexed intricacy
resolved.
—Rabelais
The world has changed dramatically since The Motley Fool began its
quest to help the world invest better in 1993. Today’s individual investor
is armed with more information and greater—and cheaper!—access to
the markets than ever before. Today, we can find a stock idea, research it
online, and buy shares, all in a matter of mere moments . . . not that we
think you should.
But much remains the same. Investing in individual equities remains
the truest path to lasting wealth. Many Wall Street brokers will argue to
their last breath that you can’t do it on your own. But we have clear
evidence—now with a track record that spans more than twenty years—
that individual investors can beat the market . . . so long as they can
overcome a few key behavioral barriers.
And yes, we’re still answering questions about the name we chose for
our company. So let’s start there.

The Motley Fool Investment Guide: How the Fools Beat Wall Street’s Wise Men and How You Can Too by Tom Gardner