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AAII How-To Portfolio Strategies

Meet Your Investing Challenges Through a New Learning Experience

AAII’s Essential Investing (EI) Course offers essential financial education and practical tools for both newcomers and seasoned investors through modules, videos and interactive sessions.

by Jenna Brashear | August 2024

  • A new educational offering from AAII includes structured modules, videos and interactive sessions
  • Diverse classes for investors at all levels build confidence and expertise in investing
  • Learn at your own pace and pick up practical tools and guidance

Individual investors face many challenges as they attempt to reach their financial goals. Common among the pressing questions: Am I generating enough income to keep up with inflation? Am I building a wealth plan and sticking to it? Am I contributing enough to my retirement accounts? Am I overconfident or underconfident in my own ability to make well-informed investment decisions?

Whatever your challenge may be, AAII’s comprehensive Essential Investing (EI) Course provides effective, clear solutions. The new course is hosted on a state-of-the-art Learning Management System (LMS) and consists of modules, videos and interactive sessions. It’s a new learning experience that combines the structured rigor of academia with the flexibility of self-directed learning. Whether you’re seeking a solid foundation in investing principles or looking to specialize in nuanced strategies, the EI Course adapts to your pace and level of expertise.

A Comprehensive Slate of Classes

The wide variety of classes in the EI Course cater to both novice and experienced investors. A few notable classes:

  • “The Case for Active Management” by David Moenning: Explores how active investing can enhance results, sharing decades of experience in risk management and decision-making.
  • “50 Years of Investing Wisdom” by Ken Fisher: Distills crucial lessons from an extensive career in market strategy and portfolio management.
  • “The Ins and Outs of Investing With ETFs” by Ben Johnson: Delves into the basics and strategic advantages of ETFs, providing insights for incorporating them into investing strategies.
  • “Fundamental Stock Screen Strategies” by Wayne Thorp: Explains a value-oriented approach based on John Neff and a growth strategy inspired by William O’Neil.
  • “Mutual Funds 101” by Charles Rotblut: Offers a comprehensive overview of mutual funds, including constructing diversified portfolios and using AAII’s Fund Evaluator and Fund Screener tools.

This is just a sample contained in the 12+ hours of video content. Presentation slides, term definitions, supplemental articles and in-video quizzes aid in comprehension as you progress through the material toward EI Course Certification. It’s more than just online classes—it’s content delivered through high-quality videos and interactive materials, making it easier for any investor to understand and apply key investing concepts.

Topics & Speakers Curated for the Individual Investor

The topics and speakers for the EI Course were chosen to address the financial struggles that AAII observed among individual investors. The course aims to level the playing field for all by offering essential financial education and practical tools for both newcomers and seasoned investors. The recurring themes throughout the course reflect fundamental investing concepts that are crucial for success, regardless of the specific techniques and approaches taught.

The EI Course emphasizes how individual investors can use their size and flexibility to their advantage. AAII has always believed that with the right tools, information and resources, individual investors can have an edge over institutions. The EI Course is the culmination of these findings put into practice.

Challenges & Solutions for Every Investor Level

The EI Course is designed to addresses the key challenges faced by investors at different stages of the investing journey. A curriculum identifies courses and tools that are appropriate for beginning, intermediate or advanced investors. This allows subscribers to build their skills in a well-thought-out progression.

Beginning Investors

New investors often struggle with assessing risk tolerance and establishing sound investing habits. Foundational classes like “Wealth-Building Process” and “Investing 101” teach how to evaluate risk and avoid emotional biases. Courses such as “The Ins & Outs of Investing With ETFs” and “Intro to Stock Investing” provide the essential knowledge about these assets to allow you to make informed decisions and build a strong portfolio. The resources are also perfect for helping adult children and grandchildren to start investing with the best guidance.

Intermediate Investors

Those already versed in the basics face challenges like overconfidence in market timing and balancing short-term needs with long-term goals. The EI Course offers targeted classes like “Dividend Investing” to help refine investment strategies and avoid market-timing pitfalls. The classes at this level build on foundational concepts, aiding investors in effectively reaching their financial goals.

Seasoned Investors

For investors with more experience, preserving wealth and adhering to a sound financial plan are critical. The EI Course provides advanced insights through classes such as “How to Become a Better Investor” by Bruce Johnstone. Courses at this level offer invaluable lessons from decades of experience, helping investors adapt their portfolios to changing market conditions and optimize their investments for long-term success.

Gain Practical Knowledge at Your Own Pace

The EI Course offers two distinct paths to navigate the content, to allow for different types of learners.

  • EI Structured Course: For those who prefer a sequential, comprehensive approach to investing, culminating in certification.
  • EI FlexiLearn Course: Offers the flexibility to learn at your pace, selecting topics of specific interest.

Whether you choose to go through a disciplined, step-by-step approach or a flexible, personalized learning experience, you are free to select the path that aligns with your learning preferences, time commitments and investing goals. Then, begin the journey to becoming a more confident and informed investor.

Where to Start

For more information on the EI Course, please visit the new AAII Learning Center. A library of course-related instructional videos and reference documents are found here. You can get a feel for the EI Course curriculum and how the platform is navigated before deciding to register.

Also, be assured that all subscribers have access to ongoing guidance and technical support throughout their learning journey with the EI Course. To subscribe, go to www.aaii.com/eicourse.

AAII Learning Center

On the Horizon for the EI Course

As we grow the course, our mission is clear: to empower every participant, no matter their background, to achieve their financial dreams and create a brighter future.

The EI Course is designed to be dynamic and evolving. Over the next few months, new video content, classes with additional speakers and the Active Investing WorkStation will be added. These updates will provide participants with interactive tools to further their education and enhance their investment strategies. So, stay tuned! 

Discussion

JOHN L from NJ posted almost 2 years ago:

Loosely paraphrasing the bible, "Of books and study there is no end. It is a weariness for the soul." Beyond the basics laid out in "A Random Walk Down Wall Street" by Burton Malkiel; more finance education starts to quickly have diminishing returns. Especially if you take the simple path to investing success by creating a portfolio from index funds and stay the course.


THOMAS S from OR posted almost 2 years ago:

Wonderful. I consider myself a seasoned investor, but I'll check it out. I've been reading the AAII Journal every month for 16 years and still find interesting little nuggets of investment wisdom, so I'm all for more finance education. Education plus the wisdom and experience that comes from applying it over time has certainly improved my portfolio returns. Whenever I am in a conversation about personal investing I recommend AAII. I'm sure this will be another great tool for those individuals who want to learn the topic.


BARRY J from TX posted almost 2 years ago:

Jenna, I think you know from our past posts and emails that I want to be an AAII team player. I have read every email on the AAII EI course. The problem with the sales pitch is that I am like so many other "AAII lifers," you have already achieved the AAII mission -- we are OVER-EDUCATED. (That's what makes many of us grumpy in our comments - we regurgitate what you taught us when we see a deviation from the Cloonan/AAII philosophy you inculcated.) Because of AAII's prolific publications and the sagacity of AAII staff writers (and some guest authors), I am blessed (cursed?) with a significant amount of investing knowledge. #1) I am well versed in the investing philosophies of the Top 20 or so "guru "books; Dayenu. #2) I actively read close to 100% of the AAII educational offerings (and, much to AAII staff chagrin, I respond to most of what I read trying to integrate it into what has come before); Dayenu. #3) I research EVERY AAII article I read across the AAII articles database to check the provenance of the ideas presented; Dayenu. #4) I read EVERY member's comment to almost EVERY AAII article I read; Dayenu. #5) YOU lured me into the AAII Community several years ago, and its database shows I am an active contributor to the Community (and respond to many AAII member comments that I imagine I can add to); Dayenu. #6) I actively follow several non-AAII educational sources to verify the alignment of their application of the principles AAII has taught me. My point is this. The AAII EI course description and promotional materials, including this one, do not meet the standards you have taught me to expect from an AAII offering. I try my best to see how the EI course will elevate my investing skills, but, to date, the pitches have not moved me to reach for a credit card because I do not see incremental value added. I am a big fan of what AAII does and how well you do it. I have enormous respect for the difficulties you have experienced in trying to monetize new offerings. If you remember, once upon a time, I reminded you that "AAII members are a tough audience." We are and it's your own "darn" fault. The team player in me would be interested in some AAII tchotchkes (Oy vey!) -- an AAII golf/ball cap, guru screen team t-shirts/jerseys, coffee mug, mouse pad, or anything else you want to add to the list. More courses from people I don't know I don't need. More guest authors' "novel" reinterpretations of how to grow wealth by paying them HIGHER fees I also do not need. (Oy very!) Regards. Best of luck with the EI franchise.


BARRY J from TX posted almost 2 years ago:

Jenna, I have this update on my experiences with making a decision to enroll in the EI Course. Last week I received 2 emails from AAII back to back on the same day. One was a repost promoting reenrollment in AAI Premium for $199. The second was a solicitation for a tax-deductible donation to AAII with no amount specified. I had enrolled in AAII Premium previously for 3-month trials but did not renew at the higher annual price because the trials did not meet my needs. The issue was not that the specific investment offerings -- MVQ, Growth, Dividend, and Retirement were not good educational programs. Each Week I received an update from the program manager on each program on changes and updates on each offering. One small, but only annoying, issue was that each weekly update was written in different style despite AAII policy for all publications to conform to a common stylesheet. The problem, was learnigns tyle.


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