AAII Los Angeles - American Association of Individual Investors

AAII Los Angeles - American Association of Individual Investors American Association of Individual Investors Los Angeles

What’s happening with Social Security?Social Security's retirement and survivor trust fund is projected to deplete its r...
08/21/2026

What’s happening with Social Security?

Social Security's retirement and survivor trust fund is projected to deplete its reserves in 2032. If Congress takes no action, continuing program income is projected to cover about 78% of scheduled OASI benefits at that time.

That does not mean Social Security disappears. Payroll taxes and other continuing revenue would still fund a substantial portion of scheduled benefits.

Several approaches are being discussed:

πŸ›οΈ PROMISE Act - A bipartisan proposal to establish a process for developing a long-term Social Security solvency plan and bringing it before Congress.

πŸ’° Payroll Tax Cap Changes - Some proposals would raise or modify the amount of wages subject to Social Security taxes so higher earners contribute on more of their income.

πŸ“ˆ Social Security 2100 Act - A proposal combining additional funding from higher-income households with measures designed to protect and increase certain benefits.

πŸ“Š COLAs - Annual Cost-of-Living Adjustments are already part of current law and are separate from the long-term Social Security funding debate.

For investors and retirees, the takeaway is simple: stay informed and maintain flexibility in your retirement plan as Social Security policy evolves.

AAII Los Angeles - Empowering Individual Investors Through Education.

For educational purposes only.

πŸ’‘ AAII Los Angeles - Investor Insights  #2TAX ALPHA: It's Not Just What You Earn. It's What You Keep.You've probably hea...
08/15/2026

πŸ’‘ AAII Los Angeles - Investor Insights #2

TAX ALPHA: It's Not Just What You Earn. It's What You Keep.

You've probably heard of investment "alpha," but what about tax alpha?

Tax alpha is the additional wealth an investor may retain through thoughtful, legal tax management. It focuses on reducing "tax drag", the impact taxes on capital gains, dividends, and interest can have on investment returns.

Unlike traditional alpha, which generally involves trying to outperform a benchmark, tax alpha focuses on improving what you keep after taxes.

Here are several ways investors may seek tax alpha:

πŸ’° Tax-Loss Harvesting
Investors may sell an investment at a loss in a taxable account and use that loss to offset capital gains elsewhere in the portfolio.

If total capital losses exceed capital gains, individuals may generally deduct up to $3,000 of net capital losses per year against other income ($1,500 if married filing separately), with unused losses generally carried forward to future years.

Be aware of the wash-sale rules when purchasing replacement investments.

πŸ“ Asset Location
Consider which investments may be better suited for taxable versus tax-advantaged accounts. Tax-inefficient, income-producing investments may sometimes be better suited for tax-advantaged accounts, depending on individual circumstances.

πŸ“… Managing Gains
Investors may have some control over when gains are realized. This could include holding an investment long enough to qualify for long-term capital-gains treatment, realizing gains during a lower-income year, deferring a sale when appropriate, or coordinating gains with investment losses.

🌱 Compounding
Money that isn't unnecessarily lost to taxes can remain invested and potentially compound for years.

πŸ“Š Think After Tax
Two portfolios with similar pre-tax returns can leave investors with different amounts after taxes.

It's not just what you earn. It's what you keep.

One important reminder:

More complicated doesn't necessarily mean better.

Tax considerations shouldn't be the sole reason to hold or sell an investment. The investment thesis should still come first.

Tax-smart investing should support a sound investment strategy, not drive it.

Question for our community:
Do you consider taxes and after-tax returns when evaluating your investments?

Shared for educational purposes by AAII Los Angeles.

Tax strategies and their benefits depend on individual circumstances and applicable tax laws. This information is for educational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or investment advice. Consider consulting an appropriate tax or financial professional regarding your individual situation.

American Association of Individual Investors - Los Angeles Chapter
A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
Trusted Investor Education

πŸŽ“ AAII Los Angeles - Timeless Investing Lessons  #2Peter Lynch"Know what you own, and know why you own it."Successful in...
08/05/2026

πŸŽ“ AAII Los Angeles - Timeless Investing Lessons #2

Peter Lynch

"Know what you own, and know why you own it."

Successful investing begins with understanding the businesses you own.

Rather than chasing headlines or following the crowd, take the time to learn what a company does, how it makes money, and why you believe it has long-term potential.

Peter Lynch reminded investors that knowledge and patience are powerful advantages.

Remember:

βœ” Invest in businesses you understand.

βœ” Know why you own them.

βœ” Stay patient - Great businesses often take time to reward investors.

Question:

What company do you know best, and why are you confident in its long-term future?

Shared for educational purposes by AAII Los Angeles.

American Association of Individual Investors - Los Angeles Chapter

A Nonprofit Dedicated to Investor Education

Trusted Investor Education

πŸ›‘οΈ Investor Insights  #1American Association of Individual Investors - Los Angeles ChapterFinancial scams continue to ev...
07/31/2026

πŸ›‘οΈ Investor Insights #1

American Association of Individual Investors - Los Angeles Chapter

Financial scams continue to evolve - but many can be avoided by practicing a few simple habits.

Remember to:

βœ” Verify unexpected phone calls, emails, or text messages before responding.

βœ” Never share passwords, security codes, or personal information with unverified sources.

βœ” Be cautious of messages creating urgency or demanding immediate payment.

βœ” Enable multi-factor authentication whenever available.

βœ” Review your financial accounts regularly for unusual activity.

A few moments of caution today can help prevent significant financial losses tomorrow.

What's one habit that helps you stay safe online? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

--------------------
Shared for educational purposes by AAII Los Angeles.

Educational concepts in this post were inspired by fraud prevention guidance published by major financial institutions, including American Express.

American Association of Individual Investors - Los Angeles Chapter

A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization

Trusted Investor Education

07/23/2026

When markets feel uncertain, timeless investing principles matter more than ever.

History reminds us that successful investors don't chase headlines - they focus on what they can control, think long term, and avoid emotional decisions.

In today's rapidly changing market environment, these timeless lessons remain as relevant as ever.

Which investing principle has helped you stay disciplined during volatile markets?

AAII Los Angeles – Helping Individual Investors Become Better Investors

A sincere thank you to Brian Jacobsen and Scott Potter for sharing their expertise with the AAII Los Angeles community d...
07/20/2026

A sincere thank you to Brian Jacobsen and Scott Potter for sharing their expertise with the AAII Los Angeles community during Saturday's webinar.

Your thoughtful perspectives on the economy, artificial intelligence, inflation, energy, and today's evolving investment landscape provided our members with valuable insights to consider as they navigate the markets.

We also extend our appreciation to everyone who joined us. Your participation and thoughtful questions helped make this an engaging and informative discussion.

Thank you for supporting AAII Los Angeles and our mission of empowering individual investors through education.

🚨 Last Chance to Register!Registration for this Saturday's AAII Los Angeles webinar closes Friday, July 17 at 6:00 PM PS...
07/16/2026

🚨 Last Chance to Register!

Registration for this Saturday's AAII Los Angeles webinar closes Friday, July 17 at 6:00 PM PST.

Don't miss this opportunity to hear from two outstanding speakers:

πŸ“Š Brian Jacobsen
Chief Economic Strategist, Annex Wealth Management

⚑ Scott Potter
Managing Director of Business Development, RBN Energy

Topics include:

β€’ Where the markets may be headed
β€’ AI and the economy
β€’ Inflation and interest rates
β€’ Energy markets and LNG exports
β€’ What these developments could mean for investors

πŸ“… Saturday, July 18, 2026
πŸ•˜ 9:00 A.M. PST
πŸ’» Zoom Webinar

We look forward to seeing you online!

Please register before Friday at 6:00 PM PST.
https://aaiila.org/july-2026-webinar-notice/

FacebookπŸ‘Ά Helping Your Child or Grandchild Build a Brighter Financial FutureIt's never too early to begin investing for ...
07/14/2026

Facebook

πŸ‘Ά Helping Your Child or Grandchild Build a Brighter Financial Future

It's never too early to begin investing for the next generation.

A newly introduced government-sponsored investment account may help eligible families begin building long-term financial security for their children or grandchildren.

Highlights include:

βœ… Potential $1,000 government contribution for eligible children*

βœ… Up to $5,000 annual contributions**

βœ… Diversified, low-cost index fund investing

Families may also wish to compare this option with 529 plans, Roth IRAs (when a child has earned income), and other savings options to determine what best fits their goals.

Please note: This is a newly introduced government program, and details may continue to evolve. Please refer to the official government website for the latest information.

⭐ Eligible children born between Jan. 1, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2028 may qualify for the government contribution.

⭐ Current contribution limit is $5,000 per child per year, including up to $2,500 from employers.

Official information:

https://www.trumpaccounts.gov

https://www.irs.gov/trumpaccounts

AAII Los Angeles is committed to helping individual investors make informed financial decisions through education.

The investing landscape never stands still.AI. Inflation. Interest rates. Energy. Global markets.These forces continue t...
07/13/2026

The investing landscape never stands still.

AI. Inflation. Interest rates. Energy. Global markets.

These forces continue to influence investment opportunities and portfolio decisions.

Join AAII Los Angeles on Saturday, July 18 as Brian Jacobsen and Scott Potter share their perspectives on today's evolving market environment and what investors should be watching.

πŸ“… Saturday, July 18, 2026
πŸ•˜ 9:00 A.M. PST
πŸ’» Live via Zoom

Registration is required.

Register here:
https://aaiila.org/july-2026-webinar-notice/

We look forward to seeing you online!

πŸ“ˆ 4 Questions Every Investor Should Be Asking Right NowToday's investment landscape is evolving quickly.Many investors a...
07/08/2026

πŸ“ˆ 4 Questions Every Investor Should Be Asking Right Now

Today's investment landscape is evolving quickly.

Many investors are wondering:

πŸ€– Is AI becoming a bigger market driver than interest rates?

πŸ“ˆ Has inflation permanently changed investing?

🏦 What happens if the Federal Reserve changes course?

⚑ Could the U.S. energy boom create new long-term investment opportunities?

Our upcoming AAII Los Angeles webinar will explore these important topics and discuss what they may mean for investors.

πŸ“… Saturday, July 18
πŸ•˜ 9:00 A.M. PST
πŸ’» Live on Zoom

We'd love to have you join us!
https://aaiila.org/july-2026-webinar-notice/

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