Field Notes From the Chapters

If you’re the same age as the average AAII member (72), the blockbuster film around our birth year was “Sunset Boulevard,” which centered on aging silent film star Norma Desmond sinking deeper into delusions about her long-ago glory days.

Gloria Swanson was in her 50s when she played the comeback role—well past prime for Hollywood, and even for Wall Street. But our role as investors has no expiration date. We can continue to “sharpen the saw” throughout life’s trajectory and defy conventional prejudices about aging.

Local chapter events honor all of life’s stages. Within the past year, chapters have directly covered retirement issues (Atlanta, Eastern Michigan, Houston, Puget Sound, San Diego) and related topics like estate planning (Silicon Valley), successful aging (Research Triangle) and inheritance planning (Twin Cities). New York hosted economists Larry Siegel and Steve Sexauer, whose theme “Longer, Healthier, Happier” touted the benefits of postponing retirement as long as possible!

AAII chapters welcome members and leaders of all ages. It’s never too late to participate in AAII’s rich and replenishing stream of resources.

After the success of “Sunset Boulevard,” Swanson spent the rest of her life reminding gawking fans that “I’m not Norma Desmond, I merely played her on screen!” An object lesson from the film is that there’s no shame in growing older if we embrace it and play to its strengths. It would be a real shame to do anything less. 

—Hollis Wagenstein-Hurturk, AAII Chapter liaison

Sign up for Chapters
www.aaii.com/ChapterEmail

See Upcoming Events
https://community.aaii.com/events/calendar