2012 AAII Silicon Valley Main Events
All the Past Main Event Topics and Speakers
With presentations you can download, where available....
2012 Presentations
November 10, 2012: 2013: New Year, New Approaches, New Tools Can the individual investor build on what the very best investment professionals do? Do back testing and optimization really work – or are they just adult video games?? Do stock screening and analysis still play a role?? How do these interact with asset allocation and life cycle investment strategies?? How can these techniques and tools be applied to stocks, ETFs and mutual funds in a reasonable amount of time – without requiring a PhD?? This year’s seminar will showcase a number of different investment strategies and tools that answer these questions Attend This Meeting to Learn:- New computer-based strategies and techniques to add to your investment strategy portfolio. - How you can apply these approaches to your portfolio using computer-based tools. Reasons to Attend This Meeting:- Be exposed to multiple different approaches and tools during one seminar - See how these tools, techniques can fit into the bigger investment picture Five Speakers: 1. Maz Jadallah Founder and CEO, AlphaClone2. Scott Juds President and CEO, SumGrowth Strategies, LLC3. Al Zmyslowski Individual Investor, AAII Chapter Board member for Computerized Investing4. Paul Charbonnet, Founding Partner, Investors FastTrack5. Marc H. Gerstein, Independent Investment Analyst/Consultant
October 13, 2012: 2012 Changes and Updates To Medicare Ask anyone turning 65 about Medicare and, likely as not, they will say it is confusing and complicated. There are Parts A and B of Original Medicare, and Medigap plans to supplement them. There’s Part D, the prescription drug plan with the infamous "donut hole." And there’s Part C of Medicare, also known as Medicare Advantage, which typically combines Parts A, B and D into one plan. There is the process of enrollment, as well as a myriad of rights and rules every Medicare beneficiary should know. The Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) of the Council on Aging Silicon Valley can help current and prospective Medicare beneficiaries as well as caregivers unravel the mysteries and wonders of Medicare. Attend This Meeting and Learn:
September 8, 2012: Investing in REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) Adding REITs to your portfolio can increase returns and reduce volatility. REIT returns were about twice that of the S&P 500 stock index over the last 10 years. REIT returns have been higher than other major asset classes over the last 42 years. There are now hundreds of REITs and REIT mutual funds and ETFs. Two strategies for investing in REITs will be discussed. Attend This Meeting and Learn:
June 9, 2012 ALL-DAY Seminar: AII Silicon Valley Chapter Presents Four Speakers Income Investing: Smart Investing: Seeking Reward While Reducing Risk Speaker: Charles Rotblut, CFA, Vice President and AAII Journal Editor American Association of Individual Investors Maximizing the potential for reward is about identifying attractive investments and prudently managing your portfolio. Reducing risk is about limiting behavioral errors and avoiding investments with a greater likelihood of decreasing in price. AAII Journal Editor Charles Rotblut gives you actionable strategies for striking a prosperous balance between reward and risk. Attend This Meeting to Learn:
May 19, 2012: Increasing Returns While Decreasing Drawdowns Using Behavioral Finance Successful equity investing is challenging enough without emotions and behavioral errors getting in our way. This presentation will review the behavioral mistakes conventional investors make and show you how to avoid those mistakes. We will discuss the benefits of a systematic approach to equity investing and how your portfolio can prosper in both bull and bear markets. Attend This Meeting and Learn:- How typical human behavior impinges upon equity investment returns - How removing emotions from the investment process results in making better investment decisions - How to decrease portfolio drawdowns Lee Levy, an accomplished fund manager with over 18 years of professional investment and risk management experience.
April 14, 2012: Options Fundamentals for Traders Hear about how to develop a solid foundation in options trading terminology and strategies. Attend This Meeting and Learn:- Options Terminology - Options Strategies Mark Eidem Mark Eidem is the Active Trader Market Manager for Charles Schwab in Northern California and Hawaii. He serves all of the Schwab offices from Santa Rosa and Napa in the north, south to Carmel Valley in addition to Honolulu. Mark became an investor in 1974, when he joined his college Investment Club at West Point. After graduation and serving several years in the Army, Mark returned to his Anchorage, Alaska home where he joined Merrill Lynch in 1985. In January of 2003, he left Merrill Lynch to become a professional trader, working for a New York-based firm with its main West Coast office in San Francisco. In early 2004, he moved from Anchorage to San Francisco and he joined Schwab in September 2004. Mark holds both the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certifications.
March 10, 2012 European Sovereign Debt and Global Investing How will the current debt crises of PIIGS countries (Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain) affect the global markets? Running with the crowd of investor sentiment is rarely a good investment strategy. And often the movement is counterintuitive, as when U.S. Treasuries were downgraded and there was a flight to safety in Treasuries. You need an easy and adaptable global investment philosophy that allows you to diversify your holding and still avoid big mistakes. Attend This Meeting and Learn:- What the likely resolutions are for Europe’s sovereign debt troubles - Which countries are liable to be helped or hurt going forward - The best approach to investing in such an environment David John Marotta , president of Marotta Wealth Management Inc. February 11, 2012: Process-Driven Investing Using ETFs and Tips and Tricks Every ETF Investor Should KnowWhile exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have become popular in recent years, most investors do not have access to good research tools for analyzing this powerful set of securities. While you may be interested in adding an ETF program to your portfolio, you are likely unsure on how to proceed with your research. Chris Greene will review specifi c techniques for ETF investing. He will present a process for testing your ideas before you put your hard-earned money to work. Greene will also discuss advanced portfolio-management techniques that allow you to participate in uptrends while avoiding large drawdowns. Building a portfolio, whether it is for growth, income or both, is no small task. We will discuss the most common pitfalls and problems facing exchange-traded fund (ETF) investors today, as well as potential solutions, proper execution of trades, and other often-overlooked considerations for investors oriented toward exchange-traded products. Attend This Meeting and Learn:- How to organize the ETF universe into a logical framework - How to understand diff erences between stock analysis and ETF analysis - How back-testing can be your most potent research tool - The importance of an investment policy statement (ISP) - The 5 common mistakes made by ETF investors, individuals and institutions alike - That not all exchange-traded products are created equal-some are more equal than others Chris Greene, CFA Richard Farkas, CMT, president of Strategic Global Investment Services January 14, 2012: 2011 FEDERAL TAX LAW & FORMS UPDATE Don’t attempt to file your tax return without it! This seminar will give you a concise and practical review of significant new tax legislation changes, regulations, rulings, form changes, and other developments that impact your 2011 individual income taxes and your planning for 2012.Attend This Meeting and Learn:- New basis reporting rules create chaos when preparing Schedule D- New requirements for rental property reporting on Schedule E - What deductions were okay in 2010 that are not in 2011Claudia Hill, EA, MBA.
October 13, 2012: 2012 Changes and Updates To Medicare Ask anyone turning 65 about Medicare and, likely as not, they will say it is confusing and complicated. There are Parts A and B of Original Medicare, and Medigap plans to supplement them. There’s Part D, the prescription drug plan with the infamous "donut hole." And there’s Part C of Medicare, also known as Medicare Advantage, which typically combines Parts A, B and D into one plan. There is the process of enrollment, as well as a myriad of rights and rules every Medicare beneficiary should know. The Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) of the Council on Aging Silicon Valley can help current and prospective Medicare beneficiaries as well as caregivers unravel the mysteries and wonders of Medicare. Attend This Meeting and Learn:
- - What Medicare is, and understand the benefits and costs
- - Understand the required and optional parts of Medicare, including prescription drug coverage
- - Understand what the health care reform legislation means for Medicare beneficiaries
- - Know what the options are for "filling the gaps" in Medicare coverage, including retiree benefits and Medigap policies
- - Be better able to decide on which parts of Medicare you or your loved-one should select
- - Don’t miss the new enrollment periods
September 8, 2012: Investing in REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) Adding REITs to your portfolio can increase returns and reduce volatility. REIT returns were about twice that of the S&P 500 stock index over the last 10 years. REIT returns have been higher than other major asset classes over the last 42 years. There are now hundreds of REITs and REIT mutual funds and ETFs. Two strategies for investing in REITs will be discussed. Attend This Meeting and Learn:
- - The history, development and structure of the REIT industry
- - Free research resources on REIT stocks, mutual funds and ETFs
- - Simple and complex ways to invest in REITs
- - Review the long term outperformance of the REIT sector
- - Learn specific attributes of major REIT subsectors
- - Review the unique tax rules on REIT profits and dividends
June 9, 2012 ALL-DAY Seminar: AII Silicon Valley Chapter Presents Four Speakers Income Investing: Smart Investing: Seeking Reward While Reducing Risk Speaker: Charles Rotblut, CFA, Vice President and AAII Journal Editor American Association of Individual Investors Maximizing the potential for reward is about identifying attractive investments and prudently managing your portfolio. Reducing risk is about limiting behavioral errors and avoiding investments with a greater likelihood of decreasing in price. AAII Journal Editor Charles Rotblut gives you actionable strategies for striking a prosperous balance between reward and risk. Attend This Meeting to Learn:
- Why rebalancing maintains the benefits of diversification and lowers portfolio risk
- The importance of sell rules and maintaining an investment diary
- How to analyze stocks and why dividends matter
- About the bond market
- Learn how bonds may fit into your income portfolio
- Different risk vs. return profile
- Safe tax free short to medium term returns of 4%
- Research muni bonds perform real-time credit analysis and monitoring.
- Different risk vs. return profile
- Learn the value of insuring a portfolio
- A different way to generate income
May 19, 2012: Increasing Returns While Decreasing Drawdowns Using Behavioral Finance Successful equity investing is challenging enough without emotions and behavioral errors getting in our way. This presentation will review the behavioral mistakes conventional investors make and show you how to avoid those mistakes. We will discuss the benefits of a systematic approach to equity investing and how your portfolio can prosper in both bull and bear markets. Attend This Meeting and Learn:- How typical human behavior impinges upon equity investment returns - How removing emotions from the investment process results in making better investment decisions - How to decrease portfolio drawdowns Lee Levy, an accomplished fund manager with over 18 years of professional investment and risk management experience.
April 14, 2012: Options Fundamentals for Traders Hear about how to develop a solid foundation in options trading terminology and strategies. Attend This Meeting and Learn:- Options Terminology - Options Strategies Mark Eidem Mark Eidem is the Active Trader Market Manager for Charles Schwab in Northern California and Hawaii. He serves all of the Schwab offices from Santa Rosa and Napa in the north, south to Carmel Valley in addition to Honolulu. Mark became an investor in 1974, when he joined his college Investment Club at West Point. After graduation and serving several years in the Army, Mark returned to his Anchorage, Alaska home where he joined Merrill Lynch in 1985. In January of 2003, he left Merrill Lynch to become a professional trader, working for a New York-based firm with its main West Coast office in San Francisco. In early 2004, he moved from Anchorage to San Francisco and he joined Schwab in September 2004. Mark holds both the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certifications.
March 10, 2012 European Sovereign Debt and Global Investing How will the current debt crises of PIIGS countries (Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain) affect the global markets? Running with the crowd of investor sentiment is rarely a good investment strategy. And often the movement is counterintuitive, as when U.S. Treasuries were downgraded and there was a flight to safety in Treasuries. You need an easy and adaptable global investment philosophy that allows you to diversify your holding and still avoid big mistakes. Attend This Meeting and Learn:- What the likely resolutions are for Europe’s sovereign debt troubles - Which countries are liable to be helped or hurt going forward - The best approach to investing in such an environment David John Marotta , president of Marotta Wealth Management Inc. February 11, 2012: Process-Driven Investing Using ETFs and Tips and Tricks Every ETF Investor Should KnowWhile exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have become popular in recent years, most investors do not have access to good research tools for analyzing this powerful set of securities. While you may be interested in adding an ETF program to your portfolio, you are likely unsure on how to proceed with your research. Chris Greene will review specifi c techniques for ETF investing. He will present a process for testing your ideas before you put your hard-earned money to work. Greene will also discuss advanced portfolio-management techniques that allow you to participate in uptrends while avoiding large drawdowns. Building a portfolio, whether it is for growth, income or both, is no small task. We will discuss the most common pitfalls and problems facing exchange-traded fund (ETF) investors today, as well as potential solutions, proper execution of trades, and other often-overlooked considerations for investors oriented toward exchange-traded products. Attend This Meeting and Learn:- How to organize the ETF universe into a logical framework - How to understand diff erences between stock analysis and ETF analysis - How back-testing can be your most potent research tool - The importance of an investment policy statement (ISP) - The 5 common mistakes made by ETF investors, individuals and institutions alike - That not all exchange-traded products are created equal-some are more equal than others Chris Greene, CFA Richard Farkas, CMT, president of Strategic Global Investment Services January 14, 2012: 2011 FEDERAL TAX LAW & FORMS UPDATE Don’t attempt to file your tax return without it! This seminar will give you a concise and practical review of significant new tax legislation changes, regulations, rulings, form changes, and other developments that impact your 2011 individual income taxes and your planning for 2012.Attend This Meeting and Learn:- New basis reporting rules create chaos when preparing Schedule D- New requirements for rental property reporting on Schedule E - What deductions were okay in 2010 that are not in 2011Claudia Hill, EA, MBA.