The Smart Money Grows Investment Analysis Guide is based on my experience over the last few years, trying to learn how to “be an investor.” Any time I do anything that I’ll do more than once, I always start by trying to uncover a fundamental and comprehensive “consideration set” that I can use as a predictable, definite guide for my thinking, and my actions from that point forward, for that particular thing.

Becoming an investor has been a similar journey for me. I’ve just recently identified what I think is a fundamental consideration set for a person like me who is not yet what I would consider to be a “sophisticated” investor.

After several years of actively researching different kinds of possible asset classes, businesses and investment opportunities that fit the consideration set that was forming in my mind, I’ve been able to bubble down that consideration set into 13 specific areas that I’m consciously evaluating on any potential investment, whether that’s an asset purchase, business purchase, or other investment/deal of any sort.

My intention is for this guide to continue to evolve over time, becoming more and more comprehensive, while simultaneously becoming easier and easier for an everyday Joe or Jane with no fancy finance or investment degrees, and little to no investment experience to use.