An Author Wednesday Interview with Ann Logue, author of “Emerging Markets for Dummies”

Emerging Markets for Dummies (Wiley Publishing, Inc. 2011) is primarily for investors who are interested in Asian, Russian, Indian, Brazilian, and other foreign markets, but who want to know more before taking the plunge. It gives you the information you need to understand emerging market nations and their place in our global and local economies. With this international guide, it provides information necessary for those thinking of investing in developing countries and markets.

Read more for the rest of this great author interview and to learn how you can grab a free copy of Ann’s book!

Q. Thanks for the interview. Can we begin by having you tell us a little bit about yourself and how long you’ve been working in and writing about this topic?

A. I worked in finance for many years, and now I write and teach about it. I’ve handled a lot of topics in that time, from career options for people with finance backgrounds to changes in regulation. I love watching how the field has changed, good and bad. Emerging markets have been especially amazing to follow, because they have changed so much. And, of course, that’s led to changes here in the US economy.

Q. What’s your new book about? Why did you write it? What main message will readers take away from it?

A. Emerging Markets for Dummies covers the basics of investing in emerging and frontier markets, including the similarities and differences between them and the markets in North America, Europe, and Japan that investors have more experience with. I want people to get excited about the possibilities for portfolio diversification.

Q. What were some of the greatest discoveries, lessons, or findings you came across while doing research and writing this book?

A. Well, I learned that Argentina was one of the world’s leading economies, a century ago. There’s no guarantee that anyone will stay on top, right? I also thought that the relative outperformance of the different emerging markets indexes was incredible. Americans generally think of international investing as risky, but it’s the US that has been risky for the past decade.

Q. What do you feel sets your book apart from others in the same genre?

A. It’s easy to read, and it can be used as a reference book. Many books on emerging markets are aimed at professionals, and this is for anyone who is interested.

Q. What are 5 things everyone should know in your area of expertise?

A. The first is that you can invest in emerging markets many different ways. The big brand-name multinational companies like Coca-Cola and McDonald’s are getting most of their growth from those markets, not here. The second is that you can reduce your risk through diversification by using an ETF or mutual fund that invests in different companies and different markets. The third is that you can invest in emerging markets by investing in currencies rather than securities. Fourth, you have a lot of research resources; if you can’t find English-language information, Google Translate can get you something usable – although hardly perfect. Finally, emerging markets investments should be thought of as long-term investments, and they may have a lot of volatility from year to year.

Q. What are some of your current projects you’ve been working on in this field?

A. Recently, I’ve been blogging for Investor Uprising on some debt and currency issues, as well as other investment topics. I’m editing a textbook now, although that’s not especially interesting, is it? And I’m always trying to think of topics that investors would like to know more about.

Q. Thank you for the interview Annie. Would you like to share where we can find you on the web and how we can buy your book?

A. My website is www.annlogue.com, and I’m on Twitter (@annielogue). The book is available at larger bookstores including Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

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About the Author: Ann Logue is a freelance writer and consulting analyst who is fascinated by business and technology. She is the author of four investment books in Wiley’s . . . For Dummies series and has written for Alpha, Barron’s, Newsweek Japan, and BusinessWeek Chicago, among other publications. She is a lecturer in finance at the University of Illinois at Chicago and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

For more information about the author: www.annlogue.com

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