The Value Proposition

If you're looking for advice on how to make a fast buck and get an adrenalin high from investing, this book is not for you. If you're looking to build wealth over time, Kim Shannon covers a common sense approach that Sionna Investment Managers uses to manage money on behalf of its clients.

Shannon and her investment team follow a path well-established by the most successful value investors: Benjamin Graham, David L. Dodd, Sir John Templeton, Peter Lynch and the "world's greatest investor," Warren Buffett. However, Sionna has a unique take on value — one that addresses the idiosyncrasies of concentrated markets — like those within Canada.

Despite proven success, value investing struggles for respect, particularly during bubbles and declines when investors take cues from headlines instead of reason and experience. Shannon discusses the psychological impulses underlying mispriced stocks that become unmoored from their intrinsic value. Citing examples, she endorses understanding investment psychology and using relative value to buy illogically discounted shares.

Suited for investors at all levels, The Value Proposition reveals Sionna's quantitative and qualitative processes and a "Sherlock Holmes" orientation to reading financial statements and assessing a company's management. After 30 successful years in the hard knocks investment world, Shannon views herself fortunate to have found her calling managing money for institutions and individuals.

She describes the unlikely journey that led to an industry that has only recently attracted women. Her account of influential mentors, the merits of staying independent and her creation of a strong Sionna culture make for an engaging and informative read.