The markets are down and many say that's a good time to buy stocks. Weekend of investing advice
By Russ Lynch
rlynch@starbulletin.comThe trouble is, not enough people know how. Education is the key to turning that around, say the organizers of "Building Better Investors," the sixth annual National Association of Investors Corp. Aloha Chapter Investors' Fair, to be conducted Nov. 16-17 in the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom.
"There are some good buys in stocks today and you can figure out which ones are the best buys, with some education," said John Sestak, a director of the local chapter and one of the instructors in the fair's education sessions.
On the first day there will be 12 education sessions and the next day there will be six. Subjects include how to create a stock watch list, how to avoid common costly investment mistakes, how to manage a portfolio, how to know when to sell and how the markets work. Representatives of six major publicly held national and international corporations will make presentations and executives of a number of Hawaii companies will also be on hand, armed with annual reports and other investor information.
"There aren't many opportunities where you can both get an education and use it right away," said another local NAIC director, Chris Kono. "You'll be able to ask them questions directly about how they're structuring their companies, or what makes them a good buy."
"And we're not trying to sell anything," said Lennie Lee, stressing the nonprofit nature of the fair and the NAIC.
It's a hands-on show too. As well as talking to investment relations executives from the various companies, guests can feel and touch products, pick up advertising materials and study reports.
Lee is a member of a typical investment club. Hers, called Kala Hui, has been investing for about seven years, has about 20 members and has built up a portfolio worth $120,000.
Such clubs meet regularly, probably once a month, to review their portfolios' performance and make investment strategy decisions. There 77 clubs in the Aloha chapter, with a total of about 1,200 members.
The NAIC encourages club members to put a certain amount into the kitty each month, to invest regularly regardless of market conditions, to reinvest all dividends and capital gains, to invest largely in growth stocks, but to keep the portfolio diversified by investing not only different industries but companies of different sizes as well.
What: "Building Better Investors," the sixth annual investors' fair of the Aloha Hawaii Chapter, National Association of Investors Corp. Investors' fair
Where: Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom
When: Noon Friday, Nov. 16, and all day Saturday, Nov. 17
Cost: If booked by Nov. 10, $50 to attend both days, including all materials and the Saturday luncheon, $35 for Saturday only. After Nov. 10, $60 for both days, $45 for Saturday only
Contact: 545-3977 or e-mail Alohanaic@juno.com
Web site: www.better-investing.org/regions/hawaii.html
All this takes some knowledge. That's why the fair aims to "get people back to education," Kono said. In the 1990s there was a lot of market speculation and many got hurt in the process.
"You've got to have those fundamental tools. Otherwise you're going to crash and burn," he said.
One class the organizers hope will have a real effect in the future is aimed at young attendees. The "young investors' workshop" is intended to teach young people investment fundamentals and the wisdom of long-term thinking.
The keynote speaker at the Saturday luncheon will be Ken Janke, national president and CEO of NAIC, author of books on investing and a regular contributor to "Better Investing" magazine.
The six corporate representatives making presentations will be:
>> Shawn Roberts, director of investor relations at Aflac Inc., the insurance company with the duck mascot and a favorite investment among NAIC clubs.
>> Beate Melten, vice president of corporate affairs and manager of retail investors at Cemex S.A. de CV, a Mexico-based company and the third-largest cement maker in the world.
>> Jeff Smith, investor relations adviser at FedEx Corp., the $20 billion transportation giant.
>> Lila Chumey, vice president of investor relations at Fluor Corp., one of the world's largest publicly held engineering, construction and business services companies.
>> Barbara Ven Horst, senior manager of investor relations at McDonald's Corp., whose restaurants serve more than 43 million people a day, and
>> Bill Seymour, manager of investor relations at Nokia Corp., a leading manufacturing of mobile telephones.
There will also be annual reports from some 80 other companies.
The fair is about using education to help people become better investors.
The fair is open to anyone, not just NAIC members.