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Past Meetings
Past Workshops
Past Meetings
February 20, 2010- Presenter:
- Dennis A. Kranyak
- Trader and Publisher of UnRulyDog.com
- Topic:
- "Exchange Traded Funds for Trading and Yield"
Dennis Kranyak presented his unique method of trading exchange traded funds (ETFs), over multiple time frames, using constant range bars (with trading replay demonstration). He also outlined his high yield portfolio set-up that yields over 20% in cash annually (laugh at your bank’s CD rates). He also covered the predictive and confirmation charts he uses to time both his trading and high yield portfolio management.
Presentation topics:- How to use predictive and confirmation indicators to understand the current state and direction of the market to improve trading and yield position initiation.
- How to trade ETFs using constant range bars, both short and longer term trading.
- How to set up and manage a portfolio that will kick out 20+% in cash annually.
- To learn trading strategies with ETFs
- To develop a portfolio strategy that produces over 20% in cash returns.
- To Gain a better understanding of market directions.
Dennis A. Kranyak has been a full time trader since 1996, and in the market since 1967. Over the past fifteen years, he has worked with the late Richard Smitten on software using Jesse Livermore’s trading methodology, and contributed to several of Mr. Smitten’s books about Jesse Livermore and his trading (Trade Like Jesse Livermore; The Amazing Life of Jesse Livermore; Jesse Livermore World’s Greatest Stock Trader; How To Trade in Stocks -Livermore/Smitten). He has been a member of the Washington, DC Area Society of Market Technicians since 1992 and currently serves on its Board of Trustees. He resides in Clifton, Virginia.
January 16, 2010
- Presenter:
- Kevin Book
- Managing Director, Research
- ClearView Energy Partners, LLC
- Topic:
- "Implications of Recent Changes in the Business and Economic Environment"
Mr. Book explored the imminent prospect of regulatory or legislative structures governing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, quantifying potential economic impacts on energy sub-sectors, and defining the key decision "gates" ahead that could alter expected outcomes. In addition, Mr. Book charted potential fuel and power demand scenarios based on the fundamental contraction in demand due to the recent recession as well as several demand destruction outcomes likely as a result of non-climate, policy changes. Finally, Mr. Book outlined a strategy for energy investments at the corporate strategic, institutional, and individual investor levels that takes these multiple axes of uncertainty into consideration.
Presentation topics:- What is really driving U.S. energy policy and what are the economic implications of coming changes?
- Which energy sub-sectors will get squeezed the most in the months and years ahead?
- Who are the two natural predators of green energy, and what could happen to them?
- To identify an often under-appreciated linkage between economics and politics as related to natural resources investing.
- To hear stories from the front lines of two theaters of investment risk: corporate board rooms and Congress.
- To quantify the upside from investments that can "disappear with the stroke of a pen".
- To learn humorous but serious treatment of complex risks to energy investors' portfolios
Kevin Book heads the research team at ClearView Energy Partners, LLC, a Washington, DC-based, independent research and consulting firm that specializes in macro-economic and political risk analyses for institutional and corporate strategic investors in energy and natural resources. Prior to joining ClearView in February 2009, Kevin led the Energy Policy, Oil & Alternative energy research team at FBR Capital Markets. Kevin's other past experience includes more than three years serving institutional investors at the Motley Fool and more than seven years' consulting work to a diverse client base including top multinationals, venture firms, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Kevin is a frequent contributor to TV, radio, and print financial media and has delivered testimony regarding oil, nuclear power, climate change, and alternative energy before Committees of the House and Senate. He holds a Master's in Law and Diplomacy and a Bachelor's in Economics from Tufts University.
November 21, 2009
- Presenter:
- Delos R. Smith
- Chief Economist and President, Delos Smith & Associates
- Topic:
- "Implications of Recent Changes in the Business and Economic Environment"
Mr. Smith discussed where we are in the business cycle. Where are the strengths and weaknesses of our economy? Has an economic recovery begun? What are government policy makers and corporations worrying about? He also discussed Federal Reserve policy and investment implications of recent changes in the business and economic environment.
Presentation topics:- The ramifications of all of the current government programs? Are we facing inflation or deflation?
- Are we putting in a new financial and investment regulatory system that might work?
- The international implications of recent events in an increasingly global economic and financial world?
Delos R. Smith is Chief Economist and President of Delos Smith & Associates. He is also the Senior Economist of the Security Executive Council - an industry organization of security industry leaders. Mr. Smith is an Associate Professor at Fordham University at Lincoln Center and is part of the Department of State Visitor's Program. He broadcasts daily with commentaries on new economic statistics releases, and is co-authoring, along with a University of Maryland Professor, a novel about navigating the changes and challenges of the 21st Century. Mr. Smith was the Senior Business Analyst for The Conference Board for 46 years, appearing regularly on numerous television and radio investment economics venues.
October 17, 2009
- Presenter:
- Sam Stovall
- Chief Investment Strategist, Standard & Poor's Equity Research
- Topic:
- "Investment Outlook 2010 – Making Money within the Confines of a Lost Decade"
In late 2008, the S&P 500 posted its first rolling 10-year price decline since the
1966-82 period, in which the DJIA continually flirted with the 1000 level. During
that 16-year stretch, investors had to endure five cyclical bear markets and four
cyclical bull markets before starting a new secular bull run.
What are the investment
prospects for 2010?
Can we still make money within the confines of a lost decade?
Sam Stovall will discuss his outlook for the global economy and equity markets.
He will also share with us some tips from his new book: The Seven Rules of Wall
Street: Time-Tested Investment Strategies That Beat the Market – which leverages
time-tested rules of thumb to instruct investors in creating market-beating portfolios.
- How stock market history can be a useful guide (it’s never gospel) in identifying likely near-term trends.
- Which sectors S&P believes will offer the greatest investment opportunities in the period ahead.
- How using “rules based” investment disciplines can help you not be your portfolio’s worst enemy.
As chief investment strategist of our Equity Research Group, Sam Stovall serves as analyst, publisher and communicator of S&P’s outlooks for the economy, market, sectors and stocks. He is the author of The Seven Rules of Wall Street” – Time-Tested Investment Strategies That Beat the Market. Sam received an M.B.A. in Finance from New York University and a B.A. in History/Education from Muhlenberg College. He is also a Certified Financial Planner.
September 12, 2009
- Presenter:
- John M. Bajkowski
- Vice President, Senior Financial Analyst, AAII
- Topic:
- "Investing via the Internet"
The Internet has become a valuable resource for the individual investor. John Bajkowski’s discussion highlighted the top Web sites for market news, stock, and mutual fund screening and analysis, and portfolio tracking. Specialty sites offering financial filings, charting, and message boards were also discussed. Meeting attendees discovered how to save time identifying potential stock and fund investment opportunities using on-line screening tools.
Presentation topics:- How to uncover potential stock and mutual fund opportunities using Web based screening tools.
- How to research stocks and mutual funds online.
- How to monitor and analyze your portfolio with Internet tools.
John Bajkowski is vice president and senior financial analyst at AAII. He writes for the AAII Journal on the topic of selecting and analyzing stocks. He serves as product manager for the Stock Investor computerized fundamental data and screening programs. John also serves on the Stock Superstars advisory committee. Bajkowski earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and management from DePaul University. He has been with AAII for nearly 20 years.
June 20, 2009
Topic: "How to Stay in Sync with Today's Changing Market Leadership"
- Presenter:
- Janet Brown
- President, DAL Investment Company
- Editor, No Load Fund*X
- Topic:
- "How to Stay in Sync with Today's Changing Market Leadership"
Learn from 30 years of successful fund investing. Janet Brown will share her secrets to the Upgrading strategy, which has led No Load Fund*X to be the #1 rated investment newsletter in the Hulbert Financial Digest for the past 25 years on a risk-adjusted basis.>/p>
Upgrading is a disciplined and quantitative approach that allows investors to successfully participate in a broad range of opportunities as they develop. It is the process of investing in top performing no-load mutual funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs), holding them for as long as they outperform their peers, and upgrading to the new winners when they don't. This upgrading approach meets the challenges of a dynamic market by combining the ability to recognize opportunities as they arise with the flexibility to move assets when leadership changes to exploit those opportunities.
Presentation topics:- How to navigate today's difficult markets; for most investors, rebalancing makes sense.
- How to select the right asset mix for recovery; and how long it might take to recover from 2008's losses which depends on your asset allocation going forward.
- To discover which funds are rising in the performance ranks now.
- Harness the power of the market to work for you. There are some funds and ETFs bringing in good relative performance even in this market environment.
- Upgrading is based on the fact that no-load mutual funds provide access to the world's best money managers. They also allow us to shift assets toward those money managers doing the best in the current market environment. You need to know which funds to invest in and when.
- Gain insights into the world of ETFs and learn when investing in them makes sense.
Janet Brown is President of San Francisco-based DAL Investment Company, an independent investment management firm, and Editor of No Load Fund*X. Founded in 1969, DAL pioneered the use of no-load mutual funds for managing large personal, corporate, and retirement accounts. Since 1976, DAL has published No Load Fund*X, which helps thousands of investors apply the Upgrading strategy in their own accounts. The firm also designs portfolios ranging from $2 million to more than $40 million and has over $1 billion under management. Ms. Brown is regularly interviewed by the media on investment and mutual fund issues. She has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Barron's, Kiplinger's, Consumer Reports Money Advisor Magazine as well as numerous other publications.
May 16, 2009
Topic: "Making the Most of your Money"
- Presenter:
- Jonathan Pond
- Financial Author and Educator,
Jonathan Pond presented his observations and suggestions for thriving in today’s challenging investment and financial planning environment. No matter how the economy and investment markets are faring, there are always sensible and attractive investment opportunities. Jonathan also discussed: planning for a financially comfortable retirement and thriving throughout your retirement years; teaching your children and grandchildren about financial responsibility so they won’t have to move back in with you in your dotage; and planning your estate for the here and now as well as the hereafter.
Presentation topics:- Opportunities to profit, no matter how badly the investment markets are performing.
- How to create a world-class portfolio with just six investments.
- How to pass on wealth without spoiling the children (if you don’t want to spend it all).
Jonathan Pond’s work in educating the public on financial matters has been far-reaching and widely recognized. His television specials have been critically acclaimed for providing useful and understandable financial guidance to people of all financial circumstances. He is widely sought as an objective and entertaining observer of the investing and personal financial planning scenes. Among the many awards he has received are the Malcolm Forbes Public Awareness Award for Excellence in Advancing Financial Understanding and an Emmy award.
April 18, 2009
Topic: "Sorting Through The Good, the Bad and The Ugly: Making Money in 2009"
- Presenter:
- Michael Shulman
- Editor, ChangeWave Shorts,
- author, Selling Short
This was a presentation on how individuals can profit by investing in short positions in selected stocks and market segments in 2009. The epicenter of the financial and economic crises is housing and this will not resolve itself until 2011. The focus of the presentation included a top down discussion of the financial system and the economy, and of segments to avoid or short in 2009 – banks, retail and consumer discretionary stocks, home builders and their cousins and selected tech. Individual opportunities and tips on creating and managing put positions were also part of the presentation – Mr. Shulman does not recommend individuals short stocks outright but use puts.
Presentation topics:- How to profit from falling stocks and market segments.
- How to hedge your portfolio.
- How to identify opportunities.
- You are tired of losing money.
- You don’t want to lose any more money.
- You want to make money.
Michael Shulman is the creator and editor of ChangeWave Shorts, a subscription service and author of Selling Short, a new book recently published by John Wiley & Sons. He has been writing investment analysis and advice for institutional and individual investors at ChangeWave, a brand created by Investor Place Media, the nation’s largest publisher of investment services for individuals, since 2001. Mr. Shulman has been investing and trading for a generation and is agnostic, his trading approach designed for any market. His first short recommendations in banking and home building were in February 2007. That year, the average position he recommended was up 51%; in 2008, 56%.
March 21, 2009
Topic: "What Next for REIT's?"
- Presenters:
- Rob Valero
- Vice President, Investor Relations,
- National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts
- Rand Griffin
- President & CEO
- Corporate Office Properties Trust
- Andy Blocher
- Senior Vice President, Treasurer & CFO
- Federal Realty Investment Trust
REIT's outperformed the broader U.S. indexes for seven consecutive years (2000-2006) but have since faced challenging times with the housing crisis (even though REIT's do not invest in single-family housing or condominiums), the weak overall economy and the credit crisis. When will REIT's rebound? Get a view from the inside as to where commercial real estate is headed during these perilous economic times.
Those attending learned:- All about REITs from experts from the industry and leading DC-area companies.
- How to evaluate and select REITs for investment purposes.
- Why REITs belong in your investment portfolio.
Rob Valero is vice president of investor relations at the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), the trade association for the REIT industry.
Rand Griffin is President and CEO of Corporate Office Properties Trust (NYSE: OFC), a Colombia, MD-based office REIT that focuses on strategic customer relationships and specialized tenant requirements in the U.S. Government, Defense Information Technology and Data sectors.Andy Blocher is senior vice president, treasurer and chief financial officer at Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE: FRT), one of America’s leading retail REITs, based in Rockville, MD.
February 21, 2009
Topic: "Building the New World: The Big Opportunity for Tough Times" Presenter: Roger S. Conrad, Editor, Utility Forecaster, Canadian Edge, Vital Resource Investor, The New World
The financial crisis has transformed into a deep global recession. But the far bigger challenge for the next decade and beyond is transforming from a world crumbling under a mountain of debt, outmoded regulation, antiquated technologies, inadequate infrastructure, increasingly scarce natural resources and environmental degradation. The dangers from this unfolding crisis are myriad, but the investment opportunities are unprecedented. A student of and advisor on infrastructure-based investments for more than 20 years, Mr. Conrad offers his unique perspective on the best and biggest opportunities for building the new world, from the emerging clean energy economy to 21st century communications and a new green revolution in agriculture.
Presentation topics:- Where the infrastructure opportunities of the future lie, and why they’re thriving even during this period of crippling fear in the markets and instability in the economy.
- Who the winners are in the transition to the new world of the 21st century, and why their ranks are dominated by many of the same companies that build the world of the 20th century.
- How to distinguish a winning company from a winning technology (they’re far from the same thing).
- To learn about New World stocks that are the best bets in an uncertain market because their revenue is ensured by governments and deep-pocketed institutions, who have deemed the investment absolutely necessary. Many pay dividends and are also very cheap./li>
- To learn about Conrad’s safety-first approach that has uncovered a group of companies that, while not immune from stock market turmoil, are still posting solid revenues and have few debt worries. They’ll be at the front of the line when the markets do recover.
- To learn why New World investments can be a fertile field for hype and unrealistic expectations that can burn investors badly. Conrad’s strategy of establishing positions in good companies at today’s low prices is the best way to ensure you’ll be set up to cash in on the opportunities and avoid the pitfalls that always accompany booms.
Roger S. Conrad has been in the investment advisory business since 1985 and has developed a well-earned reputation as a conscientious workaholic who stays in the trenches with investors during tough times. His Utility Forecaster has been cited for editorial excellence eight times by the Newsletter and Electronic Publishers Association since inception in 1989, including most recently in 2007. Utility Forecaster was also rated number four for risk-adjusted return by The Hulbert Financial Digest for the five year period ended September 30, 2008. Mr. Conrad also manages an income and growth portfolio for Leeb Capital Management and is the author of “Power Hungry: Strategic Investing in Utilities, Telecommunications and Other Essential Services.”
January 17, 2009
Topic: "Estate Planning 101"
Presenter: Phillip Kenny, JD, CFP
Information that you need to know about wills, trusts, taxes, probate, IRAs, 401ks, incapacity planning, and how to keep your money in your family.
Presentation topics:- Current Estate tax law and what is probate.
- How to avoid legal guardianship.
- How to protect children from divorces, creditors and other predators.
- Learn how to set up your estate in the most tax-efficient manner.
- Learn what your family needs to know about your estate.
- How to protect your estate.
Phillip J. Kenny, JD, CFP has served over ten thousand clients for The Collins Firm (www.MikeCollins.com) and is one of the most experienced estate planners in the metropolitan area. Mr. Kenny earned a B.S. in Biology from Marquette University, a M.A. in Economics from Fordham University, and his J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. Mr. Kenny is a member of the Trusts and Estates Sections of the Maryland, Virginia and District of Columbia Bars, and of the American Bar Association Section on Real Property, Probate and Trust Law. He has been with The Collins Firm since 1994, and is a frequent guest host of Mr. Collins' radio program on WMAL, "Legally Speaking." Mr. Kenny is also a certified financial planner focusing exclusively on the estate-planning and tax aspects of the financial planning process.
December 6, 2008
Topic: "Bond Analysis, Portfolio Strategies and Trade Executionsolio"
Presenter: Bob Pugh, CFA. President, Insight Wealth Management, Inc.
An allocation to bonds is an important risk management tool for most investment portfolios. Owning individual investment-grade corporate and/or U.S. Treasury securities is preferable to buying bond mutual funds because of the lower fees and greater control of factors such as maturity and duration of a bond allocation or portfolio. With some education, individual investors can understand, research, and include bonds in their own portfolios.
Presentation topics:- Techniques of analyzing and researching bond investments.
- Common, low-risk bond portfolio strategies such as laddering.
- Execution of bond trades.
- Learn the risks and rewards of investing in individual bonds.
- Learn common bond terminology such as yield to maturity, duration, and yield curve.
- Participate in a hands-on bond workshop to learn how to manage your own individual bond investments.
Bob Pugh, CFA, founder and president of Insight Wealth Management, Inc. (IWM) in Gainesville, Virginia, has 20 years of experience as a portfolio manager, analyst and financial educator. IWM provides investment and wealth management services to individuals, businesses and charitable organizations. In addition to his work at IWM, Bob is a faculty member of the Johns Hopkins University’s Carey School of Business and teaches graduate level courses in investment analysis and portfolio management, and is the immediate past-president of the CFA Society of Washington DC.
November 15, 2008
Topic: "7 Twelve: The Complete Portfolio"
Presenter: Craig L. Israelsen, Ph.D.Professor of Family Finance, Brigham Young University
Prof. Israelsen outlined a global, multi-asset portfolio that generated a 10-year annualized return of over 11% between 1998 to 2007. More importantly, this 60% equity/40% fixed income portfolio had positive returns during the 2000, 2001, and 2002 calendar years without the use of any tactical management.
Subjects discussed:- Portfolio diversification.
- Aggregate portfolio correlation.
- How to construct a broadly diversified portfolio.
Reasons for attending:
- A pragmatic discussion, not a theoretical discussion.
- Walk away with information you can act on.
- Dr. Israelsen has real world experience building broadly diversified target date indexes.
Craig L. Israelsen, Ph.D., is a professor at Brigham Young University. Primary among his research interests is the analysis of mutual funds. He writes monthly for Financial Planning magazine and is a regular contributor to the Journal of Indexes and Horsesmouth.com. He is a principal at Target Date Analytics LLC, a firm that has developed indexes for the benchmarking and evaluation of target date/lifecycle funds. He is the author of the 7Twelve Portfolio.
October 18, 2008
Topic: "Portfolio Performance Evaluation"
Presenter: Pat Dorsey, Director of Equity Research, Morningstar
Details:
This talk delved into how our brains are pre-wired to make irrational decisions that often lead to poor investment results.
Concepts Analyzed:- How to recognize mental traps in your own investing.
- How to be ahead of the crowd that keeps making the same mistakes.
- How to find stocks that are mispriced because the crowd is thinking about them irrationally.
- Get to know yourself better to become a smarter investor.
- Learn to recognize crowd mentality to sift through market mis-steps and snare good investments.
- Improve investment returns.
Pat Dorsey is director of equity research for Morningstar. He is the author of The Five Rules for Successful Stock Investing: Morningstar’s Guide to Building Wealth and Winning in the Market and The Little Book that Builds Wealth: The Knockout Formula for Finding Great Investments. He joined Morningstar in 1998 as a senior equity analyst covering the telecommunications equipment and computer hardware industries. He played an integral part in the development of the Morningstar Ratings for stocks, as well as Morningstar’s economic moat ratings. He holds a master’s degree in political science from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in government from Wesleyan University. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and appears weekly on the “Bulls & Bears” show on the Fox News Channel.
October 4, 2008
Topic: "OIC Intermediate Options Seminar – Managing Your Portfolio with Options"
Presenter: Albert Brinkman Director, Equity Derivatives Marketing, Philadelphia Stock Exchange
This intermediate-level seminar took attendees beyond the fundamentals of buying or selling calls and puts. After a review of basic concepts, an options professional guided attendees into the world of spread strategies. Ever heard of vertical spreads or time spreads? Attendees learned how truly flexible options are, and how these limited risk spreads might fit into even the most conservative portfolios. Ever thought a stock was poised to make a move up or down, but weren’t sure which? Attendees found out about straddles and strangles, and the nature of volatility. Attendees also learned about ways to repair an existing stock position that has moved against them.
Presentation topic:Understand how options can be used to improve portfolio performance or preserve value.
You can never learn too much about options.
- To learn what vertical and time spreads are, and how and when to use them.
- To learn how to use options to repair stock positions that have moved against you.
- To learn how to use straddles and strangles in today’s volatile markets.
Albert H. Brinkman is the Director of Equity Derivatives Marketing for the Philadelphia Stock Exchange (PHLX). He is responsible for managing the equity derivative, equity option, sector index option and foreign currency option marketing and educational services to investors, brokerage firms and institutional clients. He also runs the Market Data Analysis group for the PHLX and serves as a staff instructor for The Options Industry Council (OIC), conducting numerous equity option educational seminars throughout the United States.
September 20, 2008
Topic: "The Alternative Universe"
Presenter: Howard Marella, Principal and Chief Market Strategist, Brewer Investment Group, LLC
Investors and particularly Americans are still trying to adapt to how the world has changed. Mr. Marella led a discussion about what his firm believes is really happening and how his firm thinks investors should participate in these historical moves. Mr. Marella provided an overview of alternative investments such as future contracts, managed futures, and forex.
What was learned at this meeting:- A deeper understanding of alternative investments.
- The significance of historical moves.
- How alternative investments and historical moves can work together in a diversified portfolio.
- To hear how you can position your investments to benefit in today's market environment.
- To hear the speaker's thoughts of why fundamental news is essential to creating opportunity.
- To hear how to protect downside risk to help maintain equity.
Howard Marella has 27 years of experience in the futures industry and has been a member and floor trader of both the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT). As the author of many articles, he has been quoted in the Chicago Sun Times and on numerous industry web sites. Mr. Marella has been a featured speaker at the Chicago, California, and New York Futures Expos, and has also conducted webinars for the CBOT and Eurex.
June 14, 2008
Topic: "Portfolio Performance Evaluation"
Presenter: Marc Gerstein, Asset Management Research,
Manager Single-Asset Research, Reuters, Inc.
The good news is that screening has always been a valuable way to identify potentially winning stock ideas. The better news is that it is now feasible for individual investors to go further and test their ideas, to see how they really work in the real world. Better still, screening is edging its way into the rapidly expanding and increasingly confusing world of ETF's. All this can be nerve wracking to the uninitiated. But accessible screening tools can help you bring all this under control while at the same time expanding your investment horizons.
Subjects discussed:- How to use screening tools to identify stock opportunities.
- How to back-test your ideas to enhance the probability of your choosing sound approaches.
- How to sift through the now dizzying array of ETF.
- Learning how to bring objectivity and discipline to your stock ETF selection efforts.
- Learning how to cope with information overload, a problem that's getting worse, not better.
- Learning how to raise your game through back-testing!
After having worked as a stock analyst and high-yield bond fund manager at Value Line from 1980-1998, Marc Gerstein created and maintained investment educational and advisory content on MarketGuide.com, which became absorbed into MultexInvestor.com and later into Reuters.com from 1999-2006. During this latter period, Gerstein honed his focus on data-driven methods of finding and evaluating stocks. He authored two books, Screening the Market (Wiley 2002) and The Value Connection (Wiley 2003). In 2007, he transferred to what is now known as the Thomson-Reuters Investment & Advisory division where he is developing benchmark and investable equity indexes.
May 17, 2008
Topic: "Introduction to ETFs and Fundamental Indexing"
Presenters: Dan Doischen, Regional Director, Wisdom Tree Asset Management and
Nancy Hartsock, Financial Advisor, Smith Barney
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are one of the fastest growing parts of the financial services industry. In the presentation, some of the many reasons for this growth were covered including low cost, tax efficiency, diversification, ease of use, transparency, and access to unique markets. In addition, the next generation of indexing, termed Fundamental Indexing, were also covered. The benefits of this type of indexing and why you want to use it to manage money better were explained. The presentation also covered the ways in which ETFs may be integrated into a portfolio as core or satellite holdings, to complement mutual funds, individual securities, and separately managed accounts.
Subjects discussed:- What an Exchange Traded Fund is, and why are they so popular.
- What Fundamental Indexing is, and what the benefits are over traditional forms of indexing.
- How to effectively use ETFs inside your portfolios.
- Learn to manage money in a more tax efficient way.
- Learn how to gain exposure to unique financial markets that have not been available to individual investors in the past.
- Learn how to reduce management fees.
Dan Doischen is the Mid-Atlantic Regional Director for WisdomTree Asset Management. Dan works with financial advisors and their clients to help educate them on improving their business and performance results through the use of ETFs. He currently holds the Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor designation.
Nancy Hartsock is a financial advisor with Smith Barney in Alexandria, Virginia, where she works on a wide range of wealth management issues with affluent individuals, families, and small business owners. In her 24-year career in behavioral health, she was a successful manager and business owner.
April 12, 2008
Topic: "Stock Valuation and Stock Market Cycles"
Presenter: Bart A. DiLiddo, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO, VectorVest, Inc.
Dr.DiLiddo, discussed the primary forces dictating stock valuation, the investment climate and stock market cycles at this AAII meeting. Attendees learned firsthand how to determine the intrinsic value of their stocks as well as how to tell the "when and why" behind market movements.
Subjects discussed:- VectorVest’s extremely successful strategy of stock selection.
- Their principles of value, safety, and timeliness in stock selection.
- Managing stock market timing and selection.
- To learn the secret to selecting stocks for long-term performance.
- To learn the keys to minimizing risk.
- To learn the way to achieve outstanding performance.
Dr. Bart A. DiLiddo is creator and editor of the VectorVest Stock Advisory. He is Chairman
of VectorVest, Inc. and President of North Fork Enterprises, Inc. He was formerly an Executive V
ice President of the BFGoodrich Co.
Dr. DiLiddo received his doctorate from Case-Western Reserve University. Combining his business and
mathematical skills, Dr. DiLiddo developed formulas for assessing stock value, safety, and price
performance and developed a market-timing system which helps investors to buy stocks in rising
markets and sell stocks in falling markets. He is author of the classic book, Stocks, Strategies &
Common Sense, and co-author of the country’s best-selling financial book for children, Make
More Than Your Parents.
March 15, 2008
Topic: "Beating the Yield Chasers: Best Ways to Score High Income with Low Risk Ahead of the Crowd"
Presenter: Neil George, Editor, Personal Finance, KCI Communications
Markets have been decimating investors' portfolios of even the most conservative dividend payers. Rather than just throwing in the towel, Mr. George went through the reasons behind the market mayhem and what still works and what is new and behind the scenes that pays us very well while also giving us access to gradual gains whatever the markets or the economy might throw at us for the rest of a troubled year.
Subjects discussed:- What is and isn’t working in the markets.
- What’s behind much of the gut-wrenching market moves.
- How to still get high yields with truly less risk.
- Concerned about the markets and economy?
- Need to keep generating safe and secure income?
- Need to still growth your portfolio come what may?
Neil George is an investor, philanthropist and the editor of Personal Finance, Inner Circle, Bond Desk and The Partnership published by KCI Communications of Falls Church, Virginia and VNR Publishing of Bonn, Germany. Mr. George has worked on six continents with a select group of financial institutions in investment banking, bond trading, brokerage and investment management. He serves as adjunct professor and board member of Webster University's School of Business and Technology. Mr. George earned his MBA in international finance from Webster University in Europe and his bachelor's degree in economics from King's College.
February 16, 2008
Topic: "Beating the Yield Chasers: Best Ways to Score High Income with Low Risk Ahead of the Crowd"
Presenter: Roger S. Conrad, Editor, Utility Forecaster, Canadian Edge, and Vital Resource Investor Retirement Watch
High yield investing is “in,” and for good reason: It is the surest way to build wealth no matter what the market throws at you. The problem is the popularity of high yields which has made it a lot harder to find high quality, unless you know where to look. Roger Conrad put his 22 years of experience to uncover safe yields of up to 10 percent.
Subjects discussed:- Five great places to find safe, high yields you can hold with confidence.
- How to construct a sleep easy portfolio generating annual income of 7 to 10 percent.
- What to avoid.
- Conrad has 22 years of experience highlighting the biggest yields for readers.
- Sweet yields can bring sour consequences, unless you know how to manage the risks.
- High yield investing is still the surest road to profits, and there are more bargains in the market now than in many months.
Roger S. Conrad is editor of Canadian Edge, Utility Forecaster, associate editor for Personal Finance, editor of Vital Resource Investor and author of Power Hungry: Strategic Investing in Telecommunications, Utilities and Other Essential Services. He is also the income advisor for Leeb Capital Management, where he manages income and growth accounts. To subscribe to his free weekly e-zines, go here, or here, which focused on Canadian trusts.
January 19, 2008
Topic: "Invest Like a Fox, Not Like a Hedgehog"
Presenter: Bob Carlson, Editor, Retirement Watch
Most investors earn lower returns than they should. You will learn why the returns of so many investors are so mediocre. Success lies in acquiring the adaptability of a fox and abandoning the rigid beliefs of the hedgehog. You will also learn why widely-held investment theories fail and how to reduce risk and increase returns.
Subjects discussed:- Why most investors earn lower returns than they should while taking higher risks.
- What are the difference between relative returns and absolute returns, and how you can earn absolute returns.
- Why markets are so volatile and why we have long-term bull and bear markets, which are not explained in today's popular theories.
- To increase investment returns while reducing risk.
- To develop a framework that allows you to profitably build and manage an investment portfolio.
- To learn the mistakes that most frequently lead to investment losses.
Bob Carlson is the long-time editor of the monthly newsletter, Retirement Watch. He is the author of several books, including Invest Like a Fox…Not Like a Hedgehog and The New Rules of Retirement. He served on the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Retirement System and is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Fairfax County Employees' Retirement System.
November 17, 2007
Topic: "What Investing Environment Do We Currently Live In?"
Presenter: Delos R. Smith, President and Chief Economist,
Delos Smith and Associates
Mr. Smith looked at where we were in the business cycle. Where were the strengths of our economy? Where were its weaknesses? What were policymakers, institutional investors, and companies worrying about? He also be examined Federal Reserve policy. In the second part of his presentation, he looked at the different building blocks that make up an economic society. What had changed a lot? What had changed a little? What hadn't changed at all? What were the implications of these changes for individual investors?
Subjects discussed:- Where we are in the business cycle.
- Looking at Federal Reserve policy.
- Learning what investors should be worrying about.
- To get a look at the economic numbers. What do they mean?
- To learn about Federal Reserve policy.
- To learn the different building blocks in an economic social system.
Delos R. Smith is the President and Chief Economist of Delos Smith and Associates. He also teaches at Fordham University, NYU and the University of Maryland. Mr. Smith broadcasts daily on the USA Radio Network, AP Radio Network, GEM Radio and James Dicks Radio Network. He can be heard on the internet (click here and press the archives button). Mr. Smith for 45 years was the Senior Business Analyst for The Conference Board.
October 20, 2007
Topic: "The oil squeeze gets tighter: The crisis of the next five to ten years and what stocks to own"
Presenter: Jim Jubak
The most recent projections show that demand for oil will grow by 2.2% a year, and supply may grow by maybe 1% for the next five to ten years. Big fields outside OPEC are declining faster than anyone expected and OPEC production is close to maxed out. The oil squeeze is about to get tighter.
Subjects discussed:- Why oil supply won't meet demand.
- What stocks to own.
- Why the crisis won't lift all energy boats.
- To get a better understanding of investible trends in the oil/energy sector.
- To get an insight into how a great stock picker identifies investment prospects.
- To hear from and speak to Jim Jubak live.
Jim Jubak's Jubak's Journal appears on MSN Money every Tuesday and Friday. The stock picks in his online portfolio, Jubak's Picks, have delivered an average annualized 14.5% return since the inception of the portfolio in May 1997. (S&P 500 has returned 5.9% annual average.)
September 15, 2007
Topic: "Global Investing"
Presenter: David and George Marrotta, Marotta Asset Management, Inc.
Because of the dramatic changes taking place in the world economy due to globalization, U.S. investors should update their strategies to fit the new realities. The most rapidly growing economies are outside the US, Europe and Japan. U.S. investors can best optimize the risk and return of their portfolios by allocating a significant portion of their portfolios outside the U.S. An asset allocation can be custom-tailored to help an investor best meet their specific goals, thus boosting returns and decreasing volatility.
Subjects discussed:- BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China).
- Economic growth, freedom and appreciation of investments.
- Individualized dynamic asset allocation models.
- to take advantage of the trends of globalization.
- to balance the risk/return profile of various asset classes.
- to have the best chance to meet your specific goals.
David Marotta is president and portfolio manager of Marotta Asset Management, Inc. of Charlottesville, Virginia. He is a graduate of Stanford University and the University of Oregon and writes a weekly financial column. He has been published or quoted on financial matters in many major publications including The Washington Post, The LA Times, Dow Jones Newswire, Financial Planning Magazine, and Fidelity Wealth Management Perspectives. George Marotta is the founder and portfolio manager of Marotta Asset Management, Inc, a research fellow at Stanford's Hoover Institution, and currently teaches Global Capital Markets in the economics department of Stanford University.
June 16, 2007
Topic: "How 1.3 Billion Chinese Consumers Can Make You Richer"
Presenter: Robert Hsu, Managing Director, Absolute Return Capital Advisors, LLC., Editor China Strategy
Recently, the U.S. dollar has declined 25% against other currencies and the S&&P 500 Index has had real returns of less than 15%. In the same period, Chinese stocks listed outside of China returned over 300%. By permitting over 100 banks from around the world to set up consumer banking businesses in China this past December, the country enters a new era of consumer spending. Robert Hsu, editor of China Strategy – the fastest growing investment advisory service in America – will share with you how to profit from the coming Chinese spending boom through conservative investing.
Subjects discussed:- Why China’s 2% credit penetration rate and 35% savings rate will change rapidly in the next five years.
- Why it is important for every investor to have a China strategy even if you don’t invest in Chinese companies.
- Why most China and Asia Pacific mutual funds focus on the wrong companies.
Robert Hsu is the managing director of Absolute Return Capital Advisors, and the editor of China Strategy – America’s fastest growing investment newsletter. Prior to forming Absolute Return Capital in 2004, Mr. Hsu managed personal funds as a private investor with an average annual return of 20% over the past five years, outperforming the S&P 500 Index by over 200%. Before retiring in 1999 at age 30, he was a hedge fund manager at Goldman Sachs – Wall Street’s top investment bank. Prior to Goldman Sachs, he was an analyst and trader at a top-tier billion-dollar hedge fund. Dedicated to investor education, Mr. Hsu also volunteers as Program Chair for the Los Angeles Chapter of AAII.
Reasons for attending:- To get Robert’s top stock picks for 2007, the same stocks that earned 32% in 2006.
- To gain valuable insights on the continuing rise of the Chinese Yuan.
- To get detailed handouts including current copies of the acclaimed China Strategy newsletter.
May 19, 2007
Topic: "Portfolio Rebalancing Strategies & Asset Allocation in a Retirement Withdrawal Portfolio"
Presenter: Craig L. Israelsen, Ph.D, Associate Professor, School of Family Life, Brigham Young University
Craig L. Israelsen teaches Family Finance at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Prior to teaching at BYU, he was on the faculty of the University of Missouri - Columbia for 14 years where he taught Personal and Family Finance in the Personal Financial Planning Department. Primary among his research interests is the analysis of mutual funds. He writes monthly for Financial Planning magazine. He is married and has seven children. His hobbies include running and woodworking.
Subjects discussed:- Historical returns of various assets/investments.
- Retirement portfolio design and tactical portfolio management.
- The role of alternative asset classes in retirement portfolios.
- Historical returns of major asset classes over the past 37 years.
- Strategies for portfolio rebalancing pre- and post-retirement.
- The impact of alternative portfolio weightings on a retirement portfolio’s growth, maximum drawdown, likelihood of loss, and probability of recovery following a loss.
Using historical returns, Dr. Israelsen explained the growth potential for various retirement portfolios during the build-up phase (prior to retirement) and the draw-down phase (post-retirement). He also covered his analysis of portfolio rebalancing strategies over the past 25 years. Using historical returns, Dr. Israelsen examined the maximum draw-down, likelihood of loss, and probability of full recovery among various retirement portfolios over different time frames. Dr. Israelsen specifically addressed the use of “alternative asset classes” in retirement portfolios.
April 21, 2007
Topic: "Uses and Advantages of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)"
Presenter:Chad R. Morgan, Editor, Regional Vice President, Mid-Atlantic Region, PowerShares Capital Management
Mr. Morgan spoke about the advantages of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), the current state and future of the ETF industry, and the major firms/players in the ETF industry. He also covered why now is the time to use ETFs and how to utilize ETFs in your investment portfolio.
Subjects discussed:- The tax efficiency, low cost, and transparency of ETF's.
- How ETFs can be used to increase diversification.
- The major differences between the 400 ETF's.
- An inside view of the ETF industry.
- Understanding the differences between mutual funds and ETF's
- About PowerShares' innovative approach to ETF's
Chad Morgan is a Regional Vice President with PowerShares Capital Management (PCM). His role at the firm is to educate advisors on the structure of ETF's and how to use them in their business. He has been with the firm since its inception in early 2003. In that time, PCM has grown to $9 billion in assets. Chad is a level II Chartered Financial Analyst candidate who currently lives on Capitol Hill with his wife Allison and Chinese Sharpei named Rudy.
March 17, 2007
Topic: "Investment Management in Turbulent Markets"
Presenter: Dr. William G. Droms, CFA, Powers Professor of Finance, Georgetown University
This presentation drew on Dr. Drom’s experience managing approximately $200 million in stock, bond and mutual fund investments for high net worth individual investors. He showed how to structure a diversified portfolio that meets risk tolerance constraints and helps ride out turbulent markets. The presentation is similar to ones that Dr. Droms has developed for private wealth management professionals at numerous financial services professional organizations and professional associations.
Subjects discussed:- Selecting individual bonds.
- Selecting equity mutual funds.
- Effective portfolio diversification.
- How to select equity funds in turbulent markets.
- How to select individual bonds in turbulent markets.
- How to structure a risk-adjusted diversified portfolio.
Professor Droms is a graduate of Brown University, holds a Master’s and Doctorate from George Washington University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. He teaches investments in the undergraduate and MBA programs at Georgetown. Dr. Droms is the author or co-author of six books on finance and investments, including Investment Fundamentals, The Dow Jones-Irwin Guide to Personal Financial Planning, and The Dow Jones- Irwin Mutual Fund Yearbook. His published research papers have appeared in the Financial Analysts Journal, Journal of Accountancy, and Journal of Financial Planning. Outside of Georgetown, Professor Droms serves on the investment committees of several nonprofit organizations with total assets of approximately two billion dollars.
February 17, 2007
Topic: "High Energy Investing: Cashing in on the Rise of Alternatives"
Presenter: Roger S. Conrad, Editor, Utility Forecaster, Canadian Edge, Associate Editor, Personal Finance
Whether your goal is long-term wealth-building or living off your investments, you can cash in on one of the surest and potentially explosive mega-trends for the next five year: The rise of energy alternatives to conventional fossil fuels. Conrad looked at the pros and cons of everything from wind to nuclear power, and the best and worst bets on each form of alternate energy.
Subjects discussed:- What alternative energies are set to thrive.
- What alternative energies have already failed Wall Street’s feasibility test.
- Best alternative energy bets and what to avoid.
Roger S. Conrad is editor of award-winning investment advisories Utility Forecaster and Canadian Edge, as well as associate editor of Personal Finance—one of the oldest and widely circulated investment newsletter in the US. A graduate of Emory University and The Thunderbird School of International Management, Conrad manages income and growth accounts at Leeb Capital in New York. He appears regularly at investment seminars around the country, as well as on radio and Internet programs.
- Conrad has 20 years experience researching energy investments.
- All recommendations are based on original research.
- Conrad has no axe to grind, other than providing sound advice.
January 20, 2007
Topic: "Bond and Fixed Income Investing in the Current Market Environment"
Presenters: Christopher Dillon, CFP, Principal, Advocate Investing, and
Joe Gallagher
The speakers discussed the basics of the bond market, its major players and how they influence behavior, current environment for fixed income investing, present fixed income investment alternatives, and strategies being employed now to capitalize on opportunities within this environment along with a review of current fixed income investment performance across respective strategies.
Agenda:- Learning, from an active manager’s perspective, how to evaluate fixed income markets as many of us head toward retirement.
- Getting an insider’s view of the bond market.
- Learning about alternative fixed income strategies tailored for the current market environment.
- Some important trends that pertain to today’s fixed income markets.
- Recent fixed income performance trends and some perspective for strategies to potentially emphasize in the future.
- How to invest your fixed income allocation in the current market environment.
Christopher Dillon is a Portfolio Specialist in Fixed Income at T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. Prior to joining the firm, he was an investment advisor research consultant for PNC Advisors. Before PNC Advisors, Chris directed fixed income manager research for Smith Barney Consulting Group. He currently works as a proxy for fixed income portfolio managers with clients, consultants, and prospects. Chris has achieved the Chartered Financial Analyst accreditation.
Joe Gallagher is a Certified Financial Planner and former Vice President at Fidelity Investments. Joe is the owner of his company which assists individuals and institutions with their investment needs.
December 2, 2006
Topic: "Technical Analysis 101"
Presenter: Cary W. Greenspan, President, Cary W. Greenspan Investment Management, LLC
This presentation conveyed a basic description, understanding and use of technical analysis. Among the topics covered were chart construction, trend analysis, pattern recognition, volume studies and analysis and an introduction to the theory of stock market cycles.
Subjects discussed:- How and why charting improves investment returns
- How you can better understand market movement
- How a small amount of additional homework can lead to better long-term results
- How to interact with a professional money manager who is a Chartered Market Technician (CMT)
- To understand a condensed version of an accredited, technical analysis course taught at many universities
- To understand charts and charting in today’s markets, how they are used, and why they are so important
Cary Greenspan has been an investment professional for 23 years. He began his career as a stockbroker for Kidder, Peabody & Co. in Washington DC. He has been a private trader, an investment consultant to individuals and institutions and is currently the president of a registered investment advisory firm, Cary W. Greenspan Investment Management, LLC. Mr. Greenspan serves as the Ethics & Standards Chairperson for the Market Technicians Association and is a member of the MTA’s national officer nominating committee. He received an MBA from Northeastern University and holds a BS in Commerce from UVA.
November 18, 2006
Topic: "Oil, Copper, Gold, and Food: The Long Term Bullish Case for Commodities"
Presenter:Ivan D. Martchev, Editor, VITAL RESOURCE INVESTOR, Publisher: KCI - McLean, VAcompany
Ivan Martchev explained why natural resources and natural resource producers will be the best investments for the next decade. He also covered the anatomy of the current market correction as well as the short-term and intermediate-term outlook for natural resources like energy, gold, and other metals.
Subjects discussed:- The perspective of a speaker with extensive background and an impressive record with natural resource stock recommendations.
- Thoughts of a speaker highly rated by previous AAII audiences.
- Useful information about the investment opportunities related to natural resources.
- Why natural resources (and their producers) will outperform most other financial assets in the next 5-10 years.
- The stock market outlook for the current economic environment.
- How China and India are affecting the world economy.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Topic: "Dynamic Strategies to Take Advantage of Both Directions in Volatile Markets, “The Bull & the Bear Meet the Strangler”"
Presenter: Mr. Yu-Dee Chang, President, ACE Investment Strategists, LLC; Chesapeake Investment Services, Inc.
This meeting included discussions of the intermediate-term outlook of the economy, oil prices, interest rates, real estate, and the stock market. It included everything one needs to know about a secular bear market, fundamental based technical analysis, and how to take advantage of volatility and swings in the market through the use of stock index options.
Subjects discussed:- Past, current, and future outlook of the economy.
- Secular bear markets and their characteristics.
- Strategies to take advantage of the current market environment.
- One of the fastest growing investment tools: Managed Futures.
- The market outlook and analysis first hand from a top professional money manager.
- Effective strategies that take advantage of the current market environment and have documented track records in performance and risk management.
Mr. Yu-Dee Chang is the chief trader and sole principal of ACE Investment Strategists, LLC. He is also the owner and president of Chesapeake Investment Services, Inc., a multi-faceted commodity futures company offering a wide range of brokerage services. Mr. Chang has more than 20 years of experience in the investment industry and is responsible for the day to day supervision of over $190 million dollars of customer equity. He is also the host of the Saturday 9:00 a.m. Wealth Master radio show on WTNT AM 570.
September 16, 2006
Topic: "Is it Time to Play Offense or Defense with Defense Stocks?"
Presenter: Mr. Kevin DeSanto, Vice President, Aerospace•Defense•Government,
Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukinname
The Defense Sector has performed exceptionally well since 9-11. Defense spending presently constitutes the largest portion of the federal budget and has seen tremendous growth since 2001. Has this sector peaked, or are there still even better opportunities on the horizon - and how long is that horizon? With new and very expensive weapon systems like the F22 Raptor, Joint Strike Fighter, DDX and LCS and the Army’s Future Combat System in the wings, will this trend continue? Mr. Kevin DeSanto, VP of the Aerospace Defense Group of the merger and acquisition firm of Houllihan Lokey Howard & Zukin will examine the defense sector in general and critical companies as he explores the risks and opportunities in this exciting sector.
Subjects discussed:- Strategic investment opportunities in the Defense Sector.
- What companies are positioned advantageously to capitalize on the future.
- The identity of long term and short term investment risks.
- Understand the breadth and depth of the defense sector.
- Determine whether defense stocks should be part of your portfolio.
- Evaluate investment opportunities and trends in the defense sector.
Regarding mergers and acquisitions experience, Mr. DeSanto provides clients both sell-side and buy-side transaction support. Select clients have included L-3 Communications, Development Alternatives, Manufacturing Technology, Impact Innovations Group, OAO Technology Solutions, Eagan, McAllister & Associates, Quality Research and Radian. In addition, he participates in a variety of financial advisory engagements including transaction fairness, solvency analysis and recapitalization strategies. Mr. DeSanto has worked extensively with clients in the defense/government, communications and technology industries, among others.
Mr. DeSanto earned a B.S. in business administration with a concentration in finance from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. He is licensed with the NASD as a General Securities Principal (Series 7, 63).
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Topic: "A Heretic questions 'Buy and Hold' and shows how to sell well"
Presenter:Donald Cassidy, Senior Research analyst, Lipper Inc. (A Reuter's Company)
Investors have been educated to buy and hold, advice that works great if markets and individuals stocks go up forever. This presentation questioned the sources and validity of such advice, and dealt with the reasons why investors have such difficulty in selling. The speaker provided concrete examples of signals that help in selling well, and offered lists of do's and don'ts for good selling habits.
Subjects discussed:- a new perspective on buy and hold
- how behavioral finance can help in selling well
- the speaker's specific checklist on sell vs hold
- a broader perspective on hold vs sell
- better understanding troubles with selling
- adding some selling discipline in your investment life
Don Cassidy has been with the Lipper Funds tracking organization since 1990. He has made over 160 presentations to AAII chapters, SIGs, and the national meetings in the past 11 years and is program chair of the Denver Chapter. He is author of five books for individual investors (including IT'S WHEN TO SELL THAT COUNTS! and TRADING ON VOLUME), lectures at four Colorado Universities and is on the advisory board of the Foundation for Investor Education. He received a finance degree cum laude from the Wharton School.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Topic: "How To Stay In SYNC With Today's Changing Market
Leadership - Upgrade To The Winning Funds With NoLoad Fund*X"
Presenter: Janet Brown , President, DAL Investment Company - Editor of No Load Fund*Xcompany
Subjects discussed:
- discovering which funds to invest in now
- learning how to navigate today's financial markets
- how upgrading eliminates the need to "time the market" and the frustration of "buy and hold" strategies
- how to get their investments on the right track
- how to harness the power of the market to work for them
- why upgrading is based on the fact that no load Mutual Funds provide access to the world's best money managers which allow shifting assets toward those money man- agers doing the best in the current market environment (You need to know which funds to invest in and when.)
Janet Brown shared her secrets on the Upgrading strategy, which has led No Load Fund X to be the number one rated investment newsletter in the Hulbert Digest for the past 25 years on a risk adjusted basis. Upgrading is a disciplined quantitative approach that allows investors to successfully participate in a broad range of opportunities as they develop. It is the process of investing in top performing no loan mutual funds, holding onto those funds for as long as they outperform their peers, and upgrading to the new and current winners when they don't.
Janet Brown is President of the San Francisco based DAL Investment Company (founded in 1969) and publisher of NoLoad Fund*X newsletter. The firm designs portfolios ranging from a $2,000,000.00 minimum to many millions, and has more than $1.3 billion under management. Since 1976, the firm has published NoLoad Fund*X providing guidance to thousands of investors following the Upgrading strategy. The firm also manages the FundX Upgrades Funds, a series of no load Mutual Funds that apply the same winning strategy written about in NoLoad Fund*X.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Topic: "Turn Radical Change into Rapidly Growing Wealth"
Presenter: Tobin Smith, Founder and Chairman, ChangeWave Research
Tobin Smith is the founder and chairman of ChangeWave Research, a subsidiary of Phillips Investment Resources. He serves as editor of ChangeWave Investing, ChangeWave Inner Circle and ChangeWave MicroCap Investor. His weekly WaveWire e-letter is read by more than 250,000 investors each week.
Since 2000, Mr. Smith has served as a contributing market analyst for the Fox News Channel and currently co-stars on "Bulls & Bears," cable television's No. 1 rated investment program.
His book ChangeWave Investing, Picking the Next Monster Stocks of the New Economy hit the streets debuting on The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller list.
Subjects discussed:- top Secular Growth Waves of 2006 - how to make the most money in growth stocks
- the last big waves in Energy Investing
- What sectors to sell now
- gain confidence in being long on stocks in '06
- learn what sectors and stocks you should be over-weight in
- learn what sectors and stocks you should be out of/li>
ChangeWave Research developed the world's largest accredited expert network solely focused on macro and micro economic research. During periods that ChangeWave Reasearch's macro economic surveys show business cycle expansion, focus is on sector allocation to the strongest micro sectors of the economy undergoing transformation change that creates an environment of growing demand and/or growing pricing power. ChangeWave Reasearch's surveys that show economic contraction ahead result in a shift from equities to investments that gain pricing power/earnings from falling interest rates.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Topic: "The New Rules of Investing for Retirement"
Presenter:Bob Carlson, Editor, Retirement WatchBob Carlson is editor of Retirement Watch and www.RetirementWatch.com. His latest book is The New Rules of Retirement. In addition, he is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Fairfax County Employees' Retirement System and served on the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Retirement System from 2000-2005.
Subjects discussed:- the shortcomings of traditional investment strategies
- the portfolio strategies the best-informed and most sophisticated investors use
- how those who are in or planning for retirement should create and manage investment portfolios
- how to earn steady, solid investment returns
- how to reduce the risk of significant investment losses
- the most significant influence on long-term investment returns
Individuals who are in or preparing for retirement are at risk of not meeting their investment return goals because we are in an era of below-average returns from U.S. equities and bonds. Bob reviewed the most widely-used investment strategies and explain why they produce unsatisfactory results. Then, he discussed more effective strategies and applied them to today's markets.
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Topic: "The Portfolio Doctor's Rounds"
Presenter: Jeffrey R. Kosnett, Senior Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine
Mr. Kosnett writes a column called "The Portfolio Doctor" in which he, with some guidance from professional financial advisers, advises a family, couple, or an individual on their financial situation. Sometimes, the column deals with a poorly constructed IRA. Other times, it involves someone who has received a lump sum and is seeking advice on how to invest it. His column may also involve people getting married, divorced, or having children, and whose priorities and financial requirements change.
Subjects discussed:- how some real people should best handle their financial circumstances
- how financial advisers think
- some general principles regarding real people and their financial goals
During the meeting, Mr. Kosnett, as a knowledgeable financial writer, presented helpful financial information, and useful commentaries. Attendees learned firsthand how financial writers and editors work and think.
Jeff Kosnett, who lives in Gaithersburg with his wife Debbie, a CPA, and three cats, is senior editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine. He was a business reporter for the Baltimore Sun and the editor of Advisor Today, a professional magazine for life insurance agents. He has been with Kiplinger’s for 19 years. Jeff is an avid bike rider and competitive duplicate bridge player.
Past Workshops
December 5, 2009- Presenter:
- Ted Leplat
- Educational Speaker
- IBD
- Topic:
- "Traits that Leading Stocks Share Before They Make Their Big Price Moves"
- The seven common characteristics of the best performing stocks throughout history.
- The fundamentals of the CAN SLIM Investing System—the growth strategy that returned 2361.4% between January 1998 and June 30, 2009 (in a study by AAII).
- How to read charts more accurately, using screening techniques to identify emerging winners and IBD to identify proper buy and sell points.
- How IBD determines the current market outlook.
- How to determine the leading and lagging sectors in the market.
- How patterns of top stocks prior to their big moves.
Ted Leplat has been a national education speaker with Investor's Business Daily since 1999. He presents investing workshops and seminars to individual and professional investors, guiding investors in researching and spotting emerging growth stocks that meet Investor’s Business Daily’s CAN SLIM criteria.
June 6, 2009
Topic: "The Portfolio Perspective"
- Presenter:
- Bob Pugh, CFA
- President, Insight Wealth Management, Inc.
Investors often put the cart before the horse by purchasing securities without an investment strategy. Investing from the perspective of your total portfolio is a much more effective way of managing investment risk and determining which securities are right for you. This workshop teaches a methodical approach to assessing investment risk tolerance, creating a portfolio strategy that suits an individual's needs, establishing a strategic asset allocation, and selecting suitable securities. Taking the portfolio perspective to investing is appropriate whether you chose securities as a fundamentalist or technician.
Presentation topics:- How to manage investment risk in your portfolio more effectively.
- How to create a strategic asset allocation based on your personal financial needs and outlook for the markets.
- How to determine if specific securities fit your investment strategy.
Bob Pugh, CFA, Founder and President of Insight Wealth Management, Inc. (IWM) in Gainesville, Virginia, has over 20 years of experience as a portfolio manager, analyst, and financial educator. IWM provides investment and wealth management services to individuals, businesses, and charitable organizations. Bob's experience ranges from global economics to municipal finance from working as an analyst with the Central Intelligence Agency and local government, and in investment research in many roles. He has taught graduate level courses in investment analysis and portfolio management for 8 years for the Johns Hopkins University's Carey School of Business, and is a past, two-term President of the CFA Society of Washington, DC.
April 4, 2009
Topic: "Technical Analysis for Long Term Investing"
- Presenters:
- Scott McCormick, CMT®
- Financial Consultant with Charles Schwab & Co., Inc
Technical Analysis for Long Term Investing explored basic and intermediate concepts used by technical analysts to identify investment risk versus investment opportunity for time frames commensurate with long term investing.
Presentation topics:- How to identify long term trends in securities.
- How to employ intermediate strategies to identify the end of a trend.
- How to manage risk with basic hedging strategies using Exchange Traded Funds and Stock Options.
- To learn when it is safe to invest in a particular stock.
- To learn to reduce portfolio risk.
- To learn how to improve odds of long term investment success.
Scott McCormick has been in the industry since May 2000. He began his career with Charles Schwab in the Active Trader Services. Here he became very interested in Technical Analysis for analyzing stocks. In 2001, he began the Charted Market Technician program through the Market Technicians Association (MTA), and has since been awarded the designation of CMT. In 2004, he took a 2-year hiatus to teach equity, options, and foreign currency trading strategies using technical analysis. In 2006, he returned to Schwab as a Financial Consultant and now assists clients in managing their assets using long term asset allocation and diversification investment strategies.
May 31, 2008
Topic: "Portfolio Performance Evaluation"
Presenter: Bob Pugh, CFA President, Insight Wealth Management, Inc.
This workshop taught attendees how to objectively measure the performance of their portfolio (risk vs. return).
Subjects discussed:- Techniques for measuring portfolio performance for return and risk, and comparing that performance to relevant benchmarks.
- The use of portfolio performance analysis to evaluate investment strategies.
- How to assess investment performance of services provided by financial advisors.
- To learn how the portfolio performance provided by your investment professional is calculated.
- To learn how risky your portfolio might be.
- To participate in a hands-on workshop and get the most out of the presentation.
Bob Pugh, CFA, founder and president of Insight Wealth Management, Inc. (IWM) in Gainesville, Virginia, has 20 years of experience as a portfolio manager, analyst a nd financial educator. IWM provides investment and wealth management services to individuals, businesses and charitable organizations. In addition to his work at IWM, Bob is a faculty member of the Johns Hopkins University’s Carey School of Business and teaches graduate level courses in investment analysis and portfolio management, and is the immediate past-president of the CFA Society of Washington DC.
December 1, 2007
Topic: "Hands-On Blocks Software Training"
Presenter: Michael W. Thompson, Director of Business & Client Services,
Worden Brothers, Inc., makers of Telechart 2007 and Blocks Software
Mr. Thompson led a hands-on workshop on Blocks software. Topics included: charting, developing watchlists, using indicators, doing industry and market analysis, scanning for setups using fundamental and technical criteria, and developing and back-testing a stock selection strategy. NOTE: This was a hands-on workshop where attendees brought their own laptops pre-loaded with the Blocks software.
Pre-registered attendees had free access to the software for the weekend. In addition a 30 day free trial was available for non-subscribers.
Subjects discussed:- Use the Blocks software.
- Developing a scan to simplify the stock selection process.
- Developing a backtest to evaluate a stock selection strategy.
- To accelerate the learning curve in using Blocks software.
- To learn new ideas and strategies in stock selection and position management.
- To learn how to turn personal ideas onto back-tested working systems.
Mr. Thompson has served Worden Brothers as a National Instructor, Director of Marketing, and currently, as Director of Business and Client Relations, where he has developed and manages their growing affiliate program. He is well known for taking advanced charting concepts and making them easy to both understand and apply. An expert TeleChart and Blocks technician, offered clear insight on how to maximize the use of charting software for effective trading decisions.
October 6, 2007
Topic: "Fundamental Analysis the BetterInvesting Way"
Presenter: Brian Goodhart, BetterInvesting, D.C. Regional Chapter
The fundamental investing philosophy espoused by BetterInvesting, previously known as the National Association of Investors Corporation (NAIC), will be explained. It shows how investors use the BetterInvesting Stock Selection Guide (SSG) to analyze the fundamental performance of a company to decide if its stock is fairly valued. The presentation also covers some of the automated tools that investors use to support their BetterInvesting-style analysis and portfolio management.
Subjects discussed:- BetterInvesting's principles of investing.
- An introduction to BetterInvesting's techniques of fundamental analysis.
- An introduction to BetterInvesting's techniques for portfolio management.
- Received introduction to the fundamental analysis techniques employed by most investment clubs.
- Eeceived an introduction to the fundamental analysis tools provided by the BetterInvesting organization
Brian Goodhart is an outstanding volunteer teacher for the D.C. Regional Chapter of BetterInvesting and the founder of his own 13 year old investment club. He has designed and taught courses for the regional chapter and has introduced BetterInvesting's fundamental analysis principles and techniques to AAII's local chapter in the past.
June 2, 2007
Topic: "Options Strategies for the Stock Investor"
Presenter: Albert Brinkman, Director, Equity Derivatives Marketing, Philadelphia Stock Exchange
This workshop provided an introduction to options as an investment tool. It explained options fundamentals including choosing an options strategy in light of market expectations and volatility forecasts.
Presentation topics:- Options terminology and mechanics; buying puts and calls.
- Buying Protective Puts/ Selling Covered Calls, Collars.
- Introduction to Long Term Equity AnticiPation Securities® (LEAPS®).
- To learn how options give you more ways to implement your market research.
- To learn how options make it possible to target a variety of investment objectives including
- reducing risk
- increasing income
- making unique tradeoffs
Albert H. Brinkman is the Director of Equity Derivatives Marketing for the Philadelphia Stock Exchange (PHLX). He is responsible for managing the equity derivative, equity option, sector index option and foreign currency option marketing and educational services to investors, brokerage firms and institutional clients. He also runs the Market Data Analysis group for the PHLX and serves as a staff instructor for The Options Industry Council (OIC), conducting numerous equity option educational seminars throughout the United States.
March 31, 2007
Topic: "The Next Generation of Stock and Market Analysis"
Presenter: Michael W. Thompson, Director of Business & Client Relations, Worden Brothers, Inc.,
Makers of TeleChart 2007, Snapsheets and BackScanner software
Mr. Thompson has served Worden Brothers as a National Instructor, Director of Marketing and currently as Director of Business and Client Relations, where he has developed and manages their growing Affiliate program. He is well known for taking advanced charting concepts and making them easy to both understand and apply. An expert TeleChart technician, he will offer clear insight on how to maximize the charting software for effective trading decisions.
Subjects discussed:- How to speed-up and simplify the stock selection process.
- How to quickly assess a stock’s quality top-down or bottom-up.
- How to test and tweak trading ideas with historical data.
Mr. Thompson showed how to develop a technical approach to the markets using state-of-art, and personally customizable stock market software to make stock market studies simpler and more effective. Quick and easily duplicated studies were done using both technical and fundamental criteria. Also, historical scanning, system testing, as well as industry and market indicators, were covered.
NOTE: See Michael Thompson's notes for this workshop.Saturday, October 7, 2006
Topic: "How to Use Value Line in Stock Analysis"
Presenters:
Randy R. Beeman, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Investments
Ferris, Baker and Watts, Wise Investor Group
Simon Hamilton, Vice President of Investments, Ferris, Baker Watts
Attendees learned how to effectively use the Value Line service reports in finding and analyzing equities. Current Value Line reports on companies were used as examples and timely equity selection ideas were presented.
Subjects discussed:- use of Value Line to improve stock selection
- effectively analyzing a company using Value Line
- identifying parts of Value Line that are not very useful
Randy Beeman is a value oriented portfolio manager, popular radio show host, seminar lecturer, and author. He oversees a team of 20 professionals charged with the conservative investment management of $1.7 Billion dollars in client assets. In addition to portfolio management responsibility, he hosts the weekly Wise Investor radio show, consistently one of the most highly rated financial shows in the Washington.
Simon Hamilton is Vice President of Investments at Ferris, Baker Watts, Inc. He has more than ten years of investment advisory experience and his areas of specialization are municipal bonds, fixed income, portfolio management and asset allocation. Simon is co-host of the Wise Investor radio show, heard on 630 WMAL every Sunday morning.
Those who attended:- learned how to efficiently use this fantastic analysis tool
- gained a better understanding of stock analysis in general
- learned how to properly use Value Line
Saturday, June 3, 2006
Topic: "Modern Portfolio Theory and Fundamental Analysis"
Presenter: Robert (Bob) England, CFP
Subjects discussed:
- Investment Risk and Return
- Traditional Portfolio Theory and its relation to Modern Portfolio Theory
- Markowitz’s Efficient Frontier
- Expected Return and Diversification
- Quantitative Measurements of Risk such as Beta and Standard Deviation
- Quantitative Measurements of Risk-Adjusted Return such as Sharpe and Treynor Ratios
- Capital Asset Pricing Model
- Common Methods of Stock Valuation with the Use of Financial Data from Balance Sheets, Income Statements, and Cash Flow Statements
- Stock Valuation Measurements such as Price/Earnings and PEG Ratios
- Stock Splits vs. Stock Dividends
- Dividends and Dividend Growth Models
- learned to select stocks with superior fundamentals.
- learned to maximize investment return for a selected risk level.
- learned how to consider risk and risk-adjusted return metrics with their investments.
Bob, in addition to being a Certified Financial Planner, works in the energy engineering field. He holds a Master of Business Administration and is the former investment planning instructor at Florida Institute of Technology’s financial planning education program.