The Index Card
by Alex Ng
Helaine Olen and Harold Pollack’s revolutionary approach to personal finance that fits on a single index card.
The Big Idea
"Everything you need to know about personal finance fits on a single index card. The financial services industry profits from making money seem complicated; in reality, the fundamentals are simple and few."
Key Insights
Save 10-20% Automatically
Set up automatic transfers to savings before you see the money. The specific percentage matters less than the automation - what you don't see, you don't spend.
Have 15% of each paycheck automatically deposited into retirement accounts and savings. You'll adjust your spending to the remaining amount without feeling deprived.
Max Out Employer Match
If your employer matches 401(k) contributions, you must contribute enough to get the full match. It's free money - an immediate 50% or 100% return on your investment.
If your employer matches 50% up to 6% of salary, contribute at least 6%. On a $50,000 salary, that's $3,000 from you plus $1,500 from your employer - $4,500 total.
Low-Cost Index Funds Only
Pay attention to fees. A 1% annual fee sounds small but compounds to consume a huge portion of your wealth over time. Low-cost index funds beat most actively managed funds after fees.
Over 30 years, a 1% fee difference can reduce your final wealth by 25%. Vanguard's Total Stock Market Index fund has fees of about 0.04%. Many actively managed funds charge 1%+.
Pay Off Credit Cards Monthly
Credit card debt at 20% interest will destroy any investment gains. Pay the full balance monthly. If you can't, you're spending money you don't have.
Carrying $5,000 in credit card debt at 20% costs $1,000 per year in interest. That's money that could be invested. Pay down high-interest debt before investing beyond the employer match.
Chapter Breakdown
The Ten Rules
The entire book expands on ten simple rules that fit on an index card:
- Max your 401(k) or equivalent employee contribution
- Buy inexpensive, well-diversified mutual funds
- Never buy or sell individual securities
- Save 20% of your money
- Pay your credit card balance in full every month
- Maximize tax-advantaged savings vehicles
- Pay attention to fees. Avoid actively managed funds
- Make financial advisor commit to fiduciary standard
- Promote social insurance programs to help others
- Remember the index card!
Why Simple Works
The financial services industry profits from complexity. Complex products have higher fees. Frequent trading generates commissions. The index card approach cuts through this by focusing on what actually works: consistent saving, low fees, diversification, and avoiding debt.
The Science
Decades of research support these principles. Most active fund managers underperform index funds. Higher fees correlate with lower returns. Market timing fails. These aren't opinions - they're documented facts that the industry obscures because simplicity threatens profits.
Take Action
Practical steps you can implement today:
-
Set up automatic savings today - aim for 10-20% of income
-
Check if you're getting full employer 401(k) match - if not, increase contributions
-
Review your investment fees - move to low-cost index funds if paying more than 0.20%
-
Pay off credit card balances in full each month - if you can't, you need to cut spending
Summary Written By
Software Engineer & Writer
Software engineer with a passion for distilling complex ideas into actionable insights. Writes about finance, investment, entrepreneurship, and technology.
View all summaries →Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!
