Jason Kirsch has good news and bad news.

The bad news is that the 2008 financial crisis dealt a severe blow not just to our economy, but also to the financial health and readiness of many Americans. Nest eggs and home values plummeted in value. Millennials just starting out entered the tightest job market in years. The economy has since recovered, but not as robustly as we would all like. The middle class is shrinking, inequality is growing, and we can no longer count on social security and pensions to fund a secure retirement. The good news is that young investors, millennials especially, are in a terrific position to be smart and savvy investors - at a time when (more than any previous generation) they can and must take responsibility for their long-term financial health. They are the most educated generation in history; they are more disciplined financially than they get credit for; and they are skeptical of conventional wisdom at a time when the options for being an independent investor have never been greater. Geared to the young investor, but with a wealth of helpful insights for investors of all ages, The Millennial Advantage cuts through the noise and cliché of conventional wisdom and presents a clear-eyed picture of:

• How markets work (hint: not always rationally)
• What risk is, and is not
• How diversification is important, but not a guarantee of success
• How to avoid costly mistakes at the top and bottom of market cycles
• How to put together a portfolio that works for you and your life goals