News & Articles
In Memory of Avi Horwitz
Words cannot fully express our gratitude for all that Avi Horwitz has done for the New Jersey Chapter. His leadership wasn’t just about guidance—it was about inspiring, challenging, and believing in us, even when we didn’t believe in ourselves.Avi led us through the merger of two New Jersey chapters, uniting them into one strong, cohesive organization. More than a leader, he was a mentor, teacher, and dedicated chapter director who worked alongside us, always leading by example. He gave honest, constructive feedback, embodied the principles of BetterInvesting, and collaborated with multiple chapters to share best practices so that we could learn and grow. His ability to recognize strengths and nurture growth helped so many of us develop.
Avi gave so much of himself that it inspired us to do the same. Though he is no longer with us, his legacy will continue to guide and strengthen our chapter for years to come.
Rest in peace, Avi. You will be deeply missed but never forgotten.
First Cut Challenge*:
BetterInvesting's New Jersey Chapter is conducting its inaugural First Cut Challenge between January 14, 2025 and December 31, 2025. The NJ Chapter’s First Cut Challenge aspires to draw attention to the BetterInvesting (BI) methodology, to enhance chapter member’s SSGs, to enhance all members’ relationships with BetterInvesting and the BI NJ Chapter, and to have fun.TO PARTICIPATE:
- Download the First Cut Stock Study Report Template from the BI website
- Complete and save as directed on the form. Submit your completed form as a Word doc and the SSG in PDF format to FirstCut@betterinvesting.net
- Clubs or individuals can submit a First Cut, although if the First Cut is submitted by a club, only one prize will be awarded
- First Cuts must be published on the BI website to be counted
- Prizes will be awarded to the top six clubs or individuals who submit and have published the most First Cut Reports
- 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will receive a one year SSGPlus Membership or Membership Upgrade
- 4th, 5th and 6th place winners will receive a book of choice from the BetterInvesting Book Series
- Mutual Fund e-book
- Using Portfolio Management Wisdom Handbook
- Investment Club Operations e-book
- Stock Selection Guide e-book
Links for educational webinars:
Stock Study Session
Brian Altschul, Moderator
November 22, 2025
Brian Altschul, a Director from the New Jersey Chapter led the group in discussions of Addus Homecare (ADUS) and The Ensign Group (ENSG). Attendees were encourage to complete SSGs on both of these stocks prior to the meeting and participate in the dialogue.
Stock Study Session
NJ Chapter Annual Meeting and Demystifying the SSG: A Hands-On Guide to Researching Companies
Mary Kay Moro
September 8, 2025
Brian Altschul, Moderator
November 22, 2025
Brian Altschul, a Director from the New Jersey Chapter led the group in discussions of Addus Homecare (ADUS) and The Ensign Group (ENSG). Attendees were encourage to complete SSGs on both of these stocks prior to the meeting and participate in the dialogue.
Stock Study Session
Brian Altschul, Moderator
September 20, 2025
September 20, 2025
Brian Altschul, a Director from the New Jersey Chapter led the group in discussions of JP Morgan Chase (JPM) and Royal Bank of Canada (RY). It was suggested that attendees complete SSGs on these two stocks and participate in the dialogue.
NJ Chapter Annual Meeting and Demystifying the SSG: A Hands-On Guide to Researching Companies
Mary Kay Moro
September 8, 2025
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Mary Kay discusses different research websites, as well as Value Line and Morningstar, to give attendees research ideas.
Handout 1
Handout 2
Qualified Charitable Distributions, Donor Advised Funds, and Concentrated Stock Positions will be discussed. Learn how to leverage your Required Minimum Distributions and lower your taxes through charitable giving.
Handout 2
Qualified Charitable Distributions, Donor Advised Funds, and Concentrated Stock Positions will be discussed. Learn how to leverage your Required Minimum Distributions and lower your taxes through charitable giving.
Handouts
Diving Into Social Security 4 slides
Diving Into Social Security 2 slides
Social security, Medicare, Long Term Care, and Tax Bracket Torpedoes will be discussed. Learn how to navigate these issues with confidence.
Diving Into Social Security 4 slides
Diving Into Social Security 2 slides
Social security, Medicare, Long Term Care, and Tax Bracket Torpedoes will be discussed. Learn how to navigate these issues with confidence.
Bob Cicchino from the New Jersey Chapter and Christian Posada from the South Florida Chapter led the group in discussions of Alphabet (GOOG) and Meta Platforms (META). It was suggested that attendees complete SSGs on these two stocks and participate in the dialogue.
Christy Powell
May 29, 2025
2025-0529 Roth ConversionsMay 29, 2025
Qualified Charitable Deductions
Important Numbers
Roth Conversion
Withdrawals
Taxman Handouts 1
Taxman Handouts 2
Step Up Basis
Roth Conversion Penalty-Free
The first session will cover Roth Conversions and address some pertinent questions from her 2024 presentation that will include addressing how transactions are taxed in your retirement account, defining the difference between "taxable", "tax-deferred", and "tax-free" accounts, and explaining taxes for inherited accounts and trusts, among others.
Why the Tortoise Sometimes Wins
Ron Mauer
March 31, 2025
Sometimes your portfolio is better off with the tortoise instead of the hare. A tortoise, slow and steady, can provide a good rate of return while adding stability and income to your portfolio. Join Ron Mauer and learn an approach to studying slower growing companies that factors in both stock analysis and portfolio management. This session will look at why price earnings ratio and valuation are so important, and where you might find return on a stock investment.
Stock Study Session
Brian Altschul, Moderator
March 8, 2025
How to Create a First Cut
Robin Ware, North Florida Chapter
January 13, 2025
Creating a FIrst Cut Powerpoint
Robin Ware led this discussion on creating a First Cut Report on Kinsale (KNSL) with the help of two members of the NJ Chapter, both of whom are members of the model clubs.
Stock Study Session
Brian Altschul, Moderator
December 7, 2024
Coach, Is Offense or Defense More Important?
Robin Ware, Mike Torbenson, and John Blais,
October 30, 2024
NJ Annual Meeting and Education Presentation: Buy, Wait, Hold, Sell, or Avoid
Doug Gerlach
September 9, 2024
Ron Mauer
March 31, 2025
Sometimes your portfolio is better off with the tortoise instead of the hare. A tortoise, slow and steady, can provide a good rate of return while adding stability and income to your portfolio. Join Ron Mauer and learn an approach to studying slower growing companies that factors in both stock analysis and portfolio management. This session will look at why price earnings ratio and valuation are so important, and where you might find return on a stock investment.
Stock Study Session
Brian Altschul, Moderator
March 8, 2025
This stock study session studied Lululemon Athletica (LULU) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA). It was suggested that attendees complete SSGs on these two stocks and participate in the dialogue.
How to Create a First Cut
Robin Ware, North Florida Chapter
January 13, 2025
Creating a FIrst Cut Powerpoint
Robin Ware led this discussion on creating a First Cut Report on Kinsale (KNSL) with the help of two members of the NJ Chapter, both of whom are members of the model clubs.
Stock Study Session
Brian Altschul, Moderator
December 7, 2024
This stock study session studied Adobe Inc. (ADBE) and CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (CRWD). It was suggested that attendees complete SSGs on these two stocks and participate in the dialogue.
Coach, Is Offense or Defense More Important?
Robin Ware, Mike Torbenson, and John Blais,
October 30, 2024
The Portfolio Evaluation and Review Technique will be explored, using defensive applications by identifying companies with declining fundamentals. On the offensive side, our insights will be leveraged from the SSG and the PERT will be used to show how we can enhance our portfolio's returns.
NJ Annual Meeting and Education Presentation: Buy, Wait, Hold, Sell, or Avoid
Doug Gerlach
September 9, 2024
Handout 1
Handout 2
This session discusses the five levels of stock valuation: Strategies for handling "maybe zone" stocks; understanding uncertainty when making stock decisions; making better decisions when stocks are "on the cusp"; 5 categories of valuation to help identify areas of risk; portfolio "baskets" into which uncertain holdings can be sorted.
Handouts
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Join us as we begin to learn how to read pictures and what they can tell us about a company. This session will focus on understanding a company's growth and what it tells us about future sales and earnings per share growth. We will also touch on what the picture tells us about a company's value.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Join us as we begin to learn how to read pictures and what they can tell us about a company. This session will focus on understanding a company's growth and what it tells us about future sales and earnings per share growth. We will also touch on what the picture tells us about a company's value.
2024-SIME-29Apr-Is-Value-Line-Still-Valuable-2pp-color(1)-(1)
2024-SIME-29Apr-Is-Value-Line-Still-Valuable-4pp-bw(2)-(1)
Reading-a-Value-Line-Research-Report2020-(3)
Interactive-Value-LIne-Reference-for-April-29,-2024-FINAL(1)-(1)
Sometimes we believe we are already familiar with something and fail to fully realize its potential to help us. In this session, David Lenig and Marcia Couey are going to revisit an old friend and make a new friend too.
2024-SIME-29Apr-Is-Value-Line-Still-Valuable-4pp-bw(2)-(1)
Reading-a-Value-Line-Research-Report2020-(3)
Interactive-Value-LIne-Reference-for-April-29,-2024-FINAL(1)-(1)
Sometimes we believe we are already familiar with something and fail to fully realize its potential to help us. In this session, David Lenig and Marcia Couey are going to revisit an old friend and make a new friend too.
Depending on the source of the funds to pay living expenses in retirement, you may face very different tax rates. You want to have an organized plan that manages tax efficiently and also addresses income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA).
George Nicholson threw us a curve ball and coached us on how to go for a triple play. Join Mark Mechenbier and Avi Horwitz as we dig into his George Nicholson’s ideas about triple plays. We will learn how triple plays can help our portfolio hit a home run.
When you are sailing along growing your portfolio, the last thing you want is to spring an unexpected leak because you didn't check the condition of your boat. When you are investing, you want to make sure that there are no surprises when you ROE.
Do you skip over Preferred Procedure when using the Stock Selection Guide (SSG) because you don’t understand it? You are not alone as many people struggle to understand Preferred Procedure. As its name implies it is the preferred method for determining future earnings per share growth. It uses a simplified Income Statement to project what earnings per share will be in the future. This session will touch on understanding what we look for when we use Preferred Procedure, how it relates to our Stock Selection Guide and how it ties back to the company’s Income Statement. We will explore each of the components of Preferred Procedure that help us with our judgment about future EPS growth.
People can go a lifetime looking for diamonds or precious jewels but never find them. In this
session you will be handed hidden gems. Our three instructors: Barry Detloff, Dan Harter,
and Dori Raser will focus their presentations on hidden gems from BI methodology as well as
other methodologies that can help improve your portfolio’s performance. We will show you
where to find gems and how to use them to improve your stock studies and portfolio's
return.
session you will be handed hidden gems. Our three instructors: Barry Detloff, Dan Harter,
and Dori Raser will focus their presentations on hidden gems from BI methodology as well as
other methodologies that can help improve your portfolio’s performance. We will show you
where to find gems and how to use them to improve your stock studies and portfolio's
return.
When we study a company there are often warning signs hinting at potential issues. These signs
can help reduce the risk of judgment errors about the company. We often miss these red flags because
we are not sure what to look for.
can help reduce the risk of judgment errors about the company. We often miss these red flags because
we are not sure what to look for.
What do we look for in a stock? Find out in this webinar.
