2018 AAII Silicon Valley Main Events

All the Past Main Event Topics and Speakers

With presentations you can download, where available....
Marcelo Espiritu , Director, Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program, SourcewiseMedicare can be confusing and complicated. There is Part A & B of original Medicare, and supplemental Medigap insurance plans. There is Part D, the prescription drug insurance plan with the infamous “donut hole.” There is Part C of Medicare, called Medicare Advantage, which typically combines Parts A, B and D into one plan. There is the enrollment process, as well as a myriad of rights and rules. The Sourcewise Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP) and Marcelo Espiritu can help current and prospective beneficiaries as well as concerned relatives and caregivers unravel the nuances of Medicare insurance choices. Finally, the issue of long-term care options will be examined. You Will Learn:
  • What Medicare is and its benefits and costs, including upcoming changes affecting Medicare beneficiaries in 2019
  • About the required and optional parts of Medicare insurance, including prescription drug insurance coverage and making insurance choices
  • About long-term care, Medicare and long-term care insurance
John Buckingham , Chief Portfolio Manager, AFAM Capital; Editor, The Prudent Speculator newsletter John Buckingham was dubbed the “Buffett Beater” by Fox Business News in one of his appearances on financial television. He will share his secrets to success from his over 30 years of investing experience, discussing the types of stocks that are likely to perform best in the current market environment and name his current favorite companies in which to invest. He will share perspectives that may help investors resist the urge to sell prematurely. The Prudent Speculator is #1 ranked (for long-term total return performance), by The Hulbert Financial Digest, having generated returns in excess of 17% per year in its model portfolio since its inception in March 1977. You Will Learn:
  • Why time in the market beats market timing
  • Why dividend-paying value stocks generate excellent long-term returns
  • Why patience is the virtue that results in these long-term returns

Alan Pinck, Enrolled Agent and Owner, A. Pinck & Associates Alan Pinck will reviews the changes in store for individual taxpayers for their 2018 tax filings due next April. Based on the 2017 Federal Tax Law changes, this will include changes that affect Affordable Care Act provisions and supplemental Medicare taxes. The new standard deduction and its effect on itemized deductions will be discussed, as well as what can and can no longer be deducted. Pinck will also explain the new federal business tax as it applies to sole proprietors and other small businesses. He will also touch on the lack of conformity between California tax provisions and federal tax laws adopted in 2017. You Will Learn:
  • What the new 2018 federal tax law changes are
  • About any 2018 California tax updates
  • How this will affect taxpayers
Sept 8, 2018: Robo-Advisors and StOCK SCREENING
Jaclyn McClellan, Associate Financial Analyst, AAII; Product Manager, AAII Dividend Investing1. Robo-Advisors Online advisory services, or roboadvisers, are a new phenomenon in today’s investing world. With their growing capacity, services and assets under management, it’s important to understand not only what they are but how they work. Many robo-services are attempting to cater to individual investors, but are they better than human advisers? If you are considering a robo-advisory service, there are several important elements to look for before handing your money over. While many of the services are intriguing, Jaclyn will also show how you might get better returns on your own than by using a robo-service. You Will Learn:
  • What robo-advisers are, along with their benefits and caveats
  • Which value and growth strategies have had the best performance in AAII’s 15-year-plus study of over 50 strategies
  • How to identify good investment prospects using value and growth screening strategies
2. Finding a Stock Winner: First step screening. While successful money managers may differ in their investing philosophy, a disciplined approach to selecting and pruning investments is a common characteristic. Jaclyn Mcclellan will show how computerized stock screening systems can be used to reduce a large universe of stocks into a manageable group of prospects that match your investment style. She will walk through the process of developing and implementing both a value and a growth screen using AAII’s Stock Investor Pro fundamental stock screening and research database program. You Will Learn:
  • How to develop a screening strategy that fits with your horizon, risk tolerance, analytical skills and time
  • Which value and growth strategies have had the best performance in AAII’s 15-year-plus study of over 50 strategies
  • How to identify good investment prospects using value and growth screening strategies
Tyler, Author of PortfolioCharts.comTyler, discusses evidence-based methods to invest like a pro using sophisticated but low-key index investing strategies.Topics include how to evaluate the claims of portfolio experts pitching competing ideas, how to account for uncertainty in your financial planning, and how to create an asset allocation that effectively manages risk. Whether you’re a beginner looking for guidance or an expert interested in unique portfolio modeling tools, there should be useful information for all types of investors! You Will Learn:
  • How to use historical data to make good investing decisions while avoiding common pitfalls
  • Simple but counterintuitive asset allocation concepts to improve risk-adjusted returns
  • Actionable steps to build a low-maintenance portfolio to support your important life goals
Andy Prophet, Long-Time AAII Member & Income SIG Leader, AAII Portland ChapterJoin us in a sharp departure from traditional investing to learn about investing for a steady income stream. Andy Prophet will walk through common tools and techniques used by income investors to build and manage a portfolio. Since most AAII members are self-directed investors near or at retirement, learning how to set up a portfolio, minimize risk and grow income can be critical to a comfortable retirement. You Will Learn:
  • How to set realistic goals
  • About income vehicles such as dividend stocks.
  • How to manage a portfolio
Andrew Houghton , Partner, Delta Investment Management, LLC Delta Investment Management is a San Francisco-based registered investment advisory firm specializing in quantitative market timing programs to avoid major stock market declines and to participate in bull markets, focusing on simple, robust quantitative measures indicating when risk is elevated and equity exposures should be reduced. You Will Learn:
  • How to reliably identify in advance an elevated risk for a sustained bear market
  • The tools necessary to apply a systematic trading system to your portfolio
  • How to interpret and use the Delta Market Sentiment Indicator (MSI)
Fred Smith , Registered Investment Adviser & Board Member, AAII Silicon Valley ChapterThe five pillars of financial planning consist of investing, retirement planning, taxes, insurance and estate planning. Fred Smith will explore each of these areas in turn, and offer insights to help you achieve your long-term financial goals. If you need additional help, Smith will provide guidance on hiring a professional planner. You Will Learn:
  • An overview of the five significant fields of financial planning
  • Practical insights to use in your personal finances.
  • How and where to get help if you need it
Craig Israelsen , Ph.D. Founder, 7Twelve PortfolioUsing historical data, Craig examines the growth and loss potential of various portfolios during the build-up phase (prior to retirement) and the drawdown phase (post-retirement). The impact of rebalancing is evaluated over multiple time periods. Israelsen specifically will examine the use of “alternative asset classes” in portfolio design. The 7Twelve Portfolio, a multi-asset balanced model, will be introduced. You Will Learn:
  • The historical returns of major asset classes over the past 48 years
  • Strategies for portfolio rebalancing preand post-retirement
  • The value of “alternative” assets in a portfolio in comparison to single-asset investments or the standard 60/40 portfolio
Mar 10, 2018: IDENTITY THEFT: UNDERSTANDING THE THREATS AND STAYING SAFE
Judy Chow, Director of Product Management, Symantec Corporation Each day, you manage your personal world through an intelligent network of computers and connected devices. But are you aware of the threats lurking on the internet and how you can keep your identity, money, family, business and private information secure? This presentation will provide practical advice on identity theft and how to create safeguards that protect your personal and professional life. You Will Learn:
  • Trends in our connected digital world
  • Threats to your identity in today’s cyber landscape.
  • Practical approaches to keeping your identity safe
Janet Brown , President, FundX Investment Group Janet Brown will help you take your investing to the next level with strategies and insights that have helped thousands of investors take control of their financial futures. She’ll offer ideas on where to invest now and what to do when markets change. She’ll share secrets to long-term investment success that many people overlook. You Will Learn:
  • What you need to know about active vs. passive investing
  • How to select funds that are in favor now and fixed-income opportunities when rates rise
  • New ways to make money and make a difference
Bill Jump, Board Member, AAII Silicon Valley ChapterBill Jump reviews markets, Fed and policy in 2017 and what that says about expected results for the 2018 markets. He will discuss researching investment approaches to market themes and trends such as disaster recovery, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), telecommunication advances in 5G, autonomous driving and eVehicles, which will also be reviewed. And what is the fuss about bitcoin—is it an opportunity or a trap? You Will Learn:
  • About the 2017 market in review and what it says about 2018
  • How to research thematic investing—disaster recovery, AI, IoT, 5G, autonomous driving, eVehicle, etc.
  • Fed/Policy update and how it affects portfolios
Tuomo Lampinen, Founder, Silicon Cloud Technologies LLC This presentation provides a brief theoretical background on different areas of financial modeling and focus on how individual investors can use the available online tools for investment and portfolio analysis, in particular Portfolio Visualizer. The use of the Portfolio Visualizer website is free. This presentation will assist you in using this free website. You Will Learn:
  • How to compare asset allocations and analyze historical portfolio performance
  • How backtesting and modeling can contribute to your investment success
  • The benefits of factor analysis, asset correlation and Monte Carlo simulation in investment strategies