Reader Benefits

It has now been almost two years since we altered the delivery schedule of Computerized Investing, shifting from a bimonthly to a quarterly publication. In addition, we expanded the number of pages in each printed issue and added regular columns on spreadsheets as well as technical and fundamental stock analysis. We also began publishing monthly “online exclusive” feature articles. In general, I feel that the changes were well received—member comments, e-mails and letters have been overwhelmingly positive. However, the real proof is in the number of eyeballs viewing this online content. On the first Friday of each month we send out the monthly CI e-newsletter to approximately 40,000 members who have provided us with their e-mail addresses. To sign up for the CI e-newsletter, log into your account at AAII.com and go to “My Account.” There, you can sign up for a number of AAII e-newsletters, including the CI e-mail.

The CI monthly e-mail, on average, has an “open rate” of over 25%, which, I am told, is pretty good. However, the “click-through” rates—the number of those who actually click on a link from the e-newsletter to content at the Computerized Investing website—are considerably lower. In a perfect world, everyone who receives the e-newsletter would open it and go on to read the articles at ComputerizedInvesting.com. Many readers visit the website directly to read articles, bypassing the e-newsletter. They subscribe to the Computerized Investing RSS feed, which alerts readers when quarterly issues are posted online as well as the monthly e-newsletters. To sign up for these free AAII alerts go to www.aaii.com/rss.

If there are ways we can lower the barriers for you to access Computerized Investing content, please let us know. If there are articles you would like to see us run, let us know that too. I always welcome your comments at ci@aaii.com.

Online Broker Comparison

In this issue of CI, Joe Lan takes an in-depth look at the offerings of the most popular online discount brokers among AAII members—Charles Schwab, E*Trade, Fidelity Investments, Scottrade and TD Ameritrade. Since, these days, brokers differentiate themselves from their competitors through the tools they offer the most than the commissions they charge, we feel that this format is the most beneficial to the end user. The comparison begins on page 22.

Using Relative Strength Analysis to Pick ETFs

The February 2011 CI Online Exclusive detailed Leslie Masonson’s “Stock Market Dashboard,” a market trend indicator. Masonson uses this dashboard as part of a broader investment plan, which involves investing in exchange-traded funds (ETFs). In this issue’s feature article, I look at how Masonson uses relative strength analysis to invest in top-performing ETFs. I also show his recommendations on how to construct an ETF portfolio based on your risk tolerance. The article begins on page 16.