Howard Marks

Howard Marks is a prolific and award-winning author who has written extensively on a variety of topics, from memoirs and biographies to popular psychology and science books. He has written several nonfiction bestsellers, including The New York Times bestseller “The Streetwise Investor” and “Rebels, Outlaws, and Other Innovators in Investing,” which he coauthored with his son, Joel Marks.

Marks was born in Queens, New York, in 1948, and he grew up in a middle-class family in the Bronx. After attending college, he studied investment management economics before entering the field of investing. During his career in finance, he worked as a stockbroker, portfolio manager, and principal at various firms.

Marks’s most influential book was “The Most Important Thing: Uncommon Sense for the Thoughtful Investor” (2011), a comprehensive, yet practical guide to an effective, risk-conscious approach to investing. With this book, he set forth the basic tenets of what he calls “Odds Investing,” which emphasize assessing risk, controlling losses, and understanding probabilities. He also explains the importance of having an appropriate investment strategy and devising the necessary tactical steps to reacting to the ever-changing markets, while also making sure one is always positioning oneself to take advantage of opportunities within those markets.

Marks started his investing career rather unconventionally, relying more on research and analysis than on conventional strategies such as buy-and-hold. His strategies have helped him to be respected as one of the most successful investors of his time. Over the years, he has earned a reputation for what has been described as “bold and contrarian investing.” His longtime mentor and frequent collaborator, Michael Steinhardt, once called him the “Time-Weighted Returns King of Wall Street.”

In addition to his nonfiction books, Marks has written two memoirs, “The Most Important Thing Illuminated” (2013) and “Marks on the Markets: Investment Strategies for a Lifetime” (2019). The first chronicles his journey from humble beginnings to becoming regarded as one of the world’s most revered and accomplished investors. The second offers wisdom and insights accumulated over his more than four decades of investing. It also describes his strategies, tactics, and beliefs while articulating his understanding of the markets, which he believes are often overcomplicated. On top of that, it explains why the technical methodologies Marks employs have been used to great success.

In short, Marks is one of the most influential authors in the investment world. Not only have his books provided readers with practical advice on sound investing, but they have also been recognized as absolute classics in their field. As we all look to make more informed financial decisions, his work remains relevant and valuable today.