Fidelity's world

Fidelity Investments oversees over 8 million individual and corporate accounts holding roughly $400 billion, which makes it the biggest mutual fund firm in the United States. Yet, despite its reach and clout, the company has rarely been scrutinized up close.

Diana B. Henriques looks past the carefully managed public image to the people behind Fidelity. She profiles the two unusual, largely unknown men who founded the firm, the staff they hired to carry out their vision, and the tactics they used to transform the industry and change how millions of Americans invest. Some of those tactics were subtle, others were aggressive and harsh.

Many people put their money into mutual funds because they assume it is a fairly safe choice. This book challenges that assumption, making it especially relevant for anyone responsible for protecting their life savings.