Investment Guide Author Sets Local Appearance

Jason Kelly, author of “The Neatest Little Guide to Mutual Fund Investment,” will be signing copies of his book at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at Auntie’s Bookstore.

Kelly said he wrote the book after reviewing his mother’s retirement portfolio. Her returns were not keeping pace with inflation, he said.

Although his specialty is technical writing, Kelly said he set about researching investments at the University of California, Berkeley. He also interviewed faculty members and other specialists.

He said he had no intention of publishing the result of his research, but in 1994 ran off 50 copies at a Kinko’s printing store to distribute to friends and associates as a Christmas present.

“This book is written by somebody whose a novice,” he said. “That flavor shows up in the book.”

In February 1995, Kelly said he received a call from an executive at Silicon Graphics, a large high-tech firm in the Silicon Valley, who wanted more copies.

Kelly said he casually told the executive to simply reprint as many as he liked. The executive told him he was crazy, and should get the book published.

The result is a 130-page softcover volume published by Plume Paperbacks, an imprint of Dutton Signet.

Included are worksheets, a glossary and detailed table of contents.

Kelly said the book, though small, is complete, and simpler to understand than the highly successful “Dummies” series on investing and a variety of other topics.

He said he is finishing a companion book, “The Neatest Little Book to Stock Market Investments,” which is due at the publisher next month.

He also publishes “The Neatest Little Fundletter” and maintains a website at http:/ /www.jasonkelly.com.

‘Dummies’ get hints on saving

Speaking of the “Dummies” series, Eric Tyson, author of “Personal Finance for Dummies, Second Edition,” has suggested 10 ways to save money every day as you try to recover from Christmas overindulgence.

They range from the sweeping - learn to be happy with what you have, to the common sense - stop smoking, to the minute - keep a higher deductible on your auto insurance.

You should also stick to buying regular gas, have a garage sale, and join a wholesale superstore, Tyson says.

For the far gone, enrollment in Debtors Anonymous might be the way to go, he said.

Credit card switch not black mark

Switching frequently from one credit card to another has not created problems for cardholders, said Ruth Susswein, executive director of Bankcard Holders of America, a non-profit consumer education and advocacy group.

“Card issuers know they have been encouraging people to do this,” Susswein said, through advertisements and solicitations dangling low introductory rates as an inducement.

While switching is fine, you should cancel any account you no longer intend to use. Just cutting up your old card is not enough. “Your lender might think you are just not using it,” Susswein said.

Her advice: Write a note to your card issuer saying you are closing the account and you want the credit bureaus notified it was closed by you. Ask for written confirmation this was done.

If the account remains open, even if you don’t use the card, a lender will look at your credit limit as potential debt. If you have too many unused but open accounts, you may be considered a bad risk.

Value Line screens stocks

Here’s an exclusive quintet of stocks, chosen from thousands by the Value Line Investment Survey for long-term potential. The stocks had to pass four tests: projected price gains of 95 percent by 1999-2001; average annual growth in earnings of 20 percent for the past five years; safety rating of “3” (average), and timeliness rating (expected 12-month stock price gains) of “2” (above average).

The five that made the cut: Alza Corp., drugs; ASA Holdings Inc., regional air carrier; Cabletron Systems Inc., computer networks; Rogers Corp., electronic components; and WorldCom Inc., telecommunications.

, DataTimes