Los Angeles Business Journal Leaders of Influence in Banking and Finance • Accredited Behavioral Finance Professional • Why Hands-Off Investing Pays Off • Individual Stocks Versus Diversified
Monthly AIRE Perspectives – August 2025
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Dear Friends and Valued Clients,
Please see below for The MAP – Monthly AIRE Perspectives for this month.
Los Angeles Business Journal Leaders of Influence in Banking and Finance: Amir Monsefi
We are pleased to let you know that our CEO, Amir Monsefi, was recently selected by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of their select few Leaders of Influence in Banking & Finance. You can view the article above.
Philip Fessler: Accredited Behavioral Finance Professional
Although he is celebrating his 30th year in the business this year, AIRE Senior Partner Phil Fessler continues to expand his knowledge in an effort to constantly improve for his clients. In addition to his Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA™) designation, Phil recently obtained the Accredited Behavioral Finance Professional (ABFP) designation. As many of you know, the study of the effects of investor behavior on returns is an important theme for us at AIRE, as we believe that investor behavior affects portfolio returns more than any other factor. We are proud of Phil for increasing his expertise on this topic!
New York Times Article: Why Hands-Off Investing Pays Off
Please take a moment to read this excellent article from the New York Times, shared with us by a dear and valued client. The message is “put money into low-cost stock and bond funds, but don’t forget the rest of the recipe: leave your investments alone.”
Dimensional on Individual Stocks Versus Diversified
We would like to share a great article from Dimensional Fund Advisors on meme stocks and individual stocks in general. This is a large part of why we recommend diversified ETFs over individual stocks as part of a core portfolio.
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ABOVE THE FRAY: Donut Buy the Meme Hype | Isabelle Williams, Deputy Head of Investment Solutions
Lately, investors may be having flashbacks to the early days of meme investing. Newly-labeled “meme stocks” like Krispy Kreme (DNUT) have joined the meme menu with members of the original stack, including Gamestop (GME) and AMC Entertainment (AMC).
But before investors consider loading up their portfolios with DNUT or any other meme stock, remember that chasing them is just another form of stock picking and market timing. History suggests such tactics rarely pay off: those who try to pick winners generally lose to the broad market.
Single stocks—meme or otherwise—have a wide range of returns and on average underperform the broad market. Examining how meme stocks have fared since the phenomenon began can provide a reminder to investors to take caution. Many meme stocks have experienced extreme volatility: GME, for example, saw eye-wateringly high returns in early 2021 before falling sharply. Some, like Bed, Bath, and Beyond (BBB), don’t even exist anymore.
By holding a diversified portfolio, investors often get exposure to meme stocks, while being more likely to capture market returns and limit individual stock risk. Stocking up on just one thing—whether its donuts or stocks with buzzy appeal—is not a reliable strategy for long-term satisfaction. But a well-balanced portfolio will often include a few meme stocks, which like donuts, are best enjoyed in moderation.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are not available for direct investment; therefore, their performance does not reflect the expenses associated with the management of an actual portfolio. In USD. Source: Dimensional, using Factset data. Drawdowns are the cumulative negative returns from the prior peak. Peak is defined as the highest cumulative return level prior to a given day. This information should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell a particular security. Named securities may be held in accounts managed by Dimensional. It should not be assumed that an investment in the securities identified was or would be profitable. S&P data © 2025 S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a division of S&P Global. All rights reserved.
Once again, we would like to thank you for your trust and loyalty, and look forward to speaking with you in the upcoming month.
The commentary and opinions expressed in our articles on this page reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints and analyses of the AIRE Advisors, LLC employees writing the article. The articles on our website should not be regarded as a description of advisory services provided by our firm or performance returns of any AIRE Advisors, LLC’s clients. Any past performance discussed in these articles is no guarantee of future results. The views reflected in the articles are general in nature and made to provide education about the financial industry. These views and opinions are subject to change without notice. Any mention of a particular security, sector, and related performance data is not a recommendation to buy or sell that security or in that sector. Our firm manages client accounts using a variety of investment techniques and strategies, which are not necessarily discussed in the articles. To determine what kind of investments may be appropriate for you, please consult your financial advisor prior to investing. Also, please note that all investing involves risk and the possible loss of principal capital.
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