Summer reading spectacular! Wealth managers weigh in with their top business titles

Memorial Day weekend is officially in the books. Summer 2026 has been unofficially kicked off!

And speaking of books, for those financial professionals seeking something to read while kicking back at the beach, lake or pool over the next few months, InvestmentNews asked some wealth managers to recommend a few business titles.

Happy summer reading everybody!

Stasia Washington, Managing Director, Senior Wealth Manager at Lido Advisors:

House of Fidelity by Justin Baer

I have learned so much about the Johnson Family Dynasty and the democratization of investing, providing access to mutual funds which disrupted traditional brokers.

Bob Peterson, Senior Client Advisor at Crescent Grove Advisors:

The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

I think this is such an important book because it highlights that successful financial planning is driven more by behavior and emotions – not math and market performance. As I tell my clients, there is a ‘human’ answer and a ‘robot’ answer. You’ll be a much better advisor when you focus more on your clients’ wants and needs versus trying to solve the unsolvable. We all make decisions based on fear, confidence, and our own personal experiences, but financial success is about being consistent over a long period of time and not trying to chase ‘the hot dot’ or predict the future.

Andrew Plum, Managing Partner and Investment Committee Head at Loxahatchee Capital:

Fooled by Randomness by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

I was drawn to the book because I've always been intrigued by the concept of persistent out-performance and whether it is due to some form of luck or manager skill. I still firmly believe in the concept of manager outperformance due to skill and market inefficiencies. However, when it comes to broad, very liquid, equity indexes, durable outperformance gets much more difficult. I believe Taleb does a good job of unpacking these concepts. I would recommend this book to any investment professional or investor that is interested in being enlightened about the widely-held misconceptions about trading and the investment markets.   

Stacy Wison, Director of Operations at Wilson Peak Wealth Management, a Private Advisor Group affiliate:

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

We gifted this book to our clients in 2023. I wanted to revisit the idea of planning a well-lived life including end-of-life care and aging with dignity. Gawande seamlessly blends the pragmatic, and sometimes neglected, idea that everyone grows old with the hope that there is strength in planning for that inevitability. As a professional working in financial services, I love a good plan. The topic is a bit toothsome, but life changing. I highly recommend it to anyone caring for an older adult or supporting adult children.

Jessica Chominski, Financial Advisor and Director of Institutional Marketing at Aquinas Wealth Advisors:

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I say that it’s for business because my middle schooler is reading it, and as a mom, I am continually trying to find ways to connect with and challenge my older kids. If I read what she is reading, it gives us a common starting point and even a common vocabulary that we can use to discuss larger and more meaningful topics.

Spencer Knickerbocker, Partner, Chief Investment Officer at Stonebrook Private:

Atomic Habits by James Clear

We're essentially always on, since there's always another conversation with clients, another email, another decision that needs to be made. Unless you have some kind of process in place, your planned agenda will get buried under everything else. The core message is that small, repeatable behaviors build up much faster than we expect them to, and the model he uses is very actionable and useful - not something I've seen before in this type of book.

Chris Jauch, Senior Client Advisor at Crescent Grove Advisors:

No Worries: How to Live a Stress-Free Financial Life by Jared Dillian

Since it is graduation season, I thought I would start with an easy-to-read book that would a make a perfect graduation gift – a great financial starting point – even more so for those that are not business or finance majors. The book takes a practical, wholistic/mindset approach and focuses on getting the big decisions right - house, car, college, debt, spouse, portfolio diversification, etc. - while managing/reducing financial stress. It is neither a guide to get rich quick, nor a roadmap to extreme austerity. While our approach may differ in some respects when it comes down to the details, the book is an accessible big picture take on finances to build from.

Eric Schmitz, Director of Public & Private Markets, Institutional Portfolio Manager at Crescent Grove Advisors:

The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

Incredible read on true entrepreneurship and being a leader. Brutally honest, practical, and edgy. Some excellent practical takeaways for people running their own business.