Being Thrifty Can Be Fun
A year ago, Faye and David decided to get smart around saving money. “We both love the idea of retirement,” says Faye. “But we could never seem to close the gap between what we earn and what it costs to run our life to increase our savings.” As the couple approached their fifties, they decided […]
Time: Your Most Important Planning Tool
Time is one of those daily realities that we usually take for granted. But when it comes to building wealth and managing investments, it is tremendously important. How you view, manage, and interact with “time” could deeply impact your financial success more than any other variable that you personally control. The ability to think about […]
The 50-30-20 Rule
“At this point last January, I was determined to change my relationship with money forever,” says Daniel. This is a New Year’s resolution he shared with 69% of Canadians last year1. However, unlike most others, Daniel has been able to stick with his promise to get control of his financial life. “I’d say 100% of […]
Which Type of Investor Are You?
Many investors are very focused on annual returns and others worry about losing money if the economy goes into a recession. The reality is that how to approach or react to different scenarios really depends on what type of investor you are. In other words, context and your financial plan are everything! The first investor […]
Healthy, Wealthy and Wise
According to the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada1, good health is determined by mental, physical, and financial wellness. In other words: mind, body, and money. Physical and mental health makes sense, but what is financial wellness? Financial wellness doesn’t necessarily mean you have millions of dollars invested, although you’ve achieved an admirable goal if you […]
Financial Advice for New and Expecting Parents
Whether you’re expecting a child, planning to have one soon or have just become a new parent, you’re about to embark on one of the most rewarding journeys that life has to offer. It’s also one of the most expensive: an average of $12,500 per year until age 18.1. That’s $225,000 per child, and it […]
A Point In Time
There are moments in time when significant economic shifts occur that alter the future. One such moment occurred in late August 2019 at the close of the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium. This is an annual and exclusive central banking conference to foster open discussion about important and current policy matters. Bank of England Governor, and […]
Storyline Investing
The point of the headline is to distinguish what kind of investor you are. Do you follow storylines as described in the media headlines, or do you rely upon numbers and data to build your wealth and achieve financial independence? Warren Buffett has made this point clearly by stating that in the short term, the […]
The Power of Compound Interest
“Money makes money. And the money that money makes, makes more money.”1 This quote by Benjamin Franklin is referencing the power of compound interest. Albert Einstein extolled the wealth-building virtues of compound interest as well. He is reputed as saying he considered it to be man’s greatest invention and the eighth wonder of the world.2 […]
Questions. Questions. Questions.
It is increasingly difficult to ignore some of the trading action in the markets that is causing surprising moves in equity values while the underlying economy continues to struggle (refer to U.S. unemployment data, for example). This type of divergence has occurred in the past and at some point, the values reflected in the stock, […]
Time-Tested Money Management Strategies
As we grow up, what we learn about money from our parents can significantly influence how we earn, save, and grow our wealth. Meaghan, an elementary school teacher, credits her mother for her healthy approach to finances today. “I was lucky to grow up understanding that I could control my financial future if I was […]
Does Buy and Hold Still Work?
As an investment strategy, “Buy and Hold” is just what it sounds like: you buy an investment and hold it for an extended period, riding out market fluctuations and selling when the price reaches your target. The underlying logic of this strategy is that investments tend to gain value over time. That long-term gain, along […]
Is Inflation Missing?
Many commentators are expecting increased inflation in the coming months as Central Banks globally have ramped up their money creation efforts in response to the increased market volatility last March. There are different types of inflation, but most people have experienced price inflation, whereby excess demand is met by rising prices. The next round of […]
A State of Financial Wellness
Money has long been the number one stressor for many Canadians, and there’s no doubt that COVID has magnified this reality. It has upended jobs, security, health and financial stability for people across the country. Millions of Canadians are struggling to cover their bills. In March of 2020, 49% of Canadians were just $200 from […]
Moving For a New Job? Consider the Costs
A job change is no longer just about higher pay or a better title. It can also be about achieving a healthier life balance or simply trying something new. In many cases, a new job includes relocating to a new community. A new opportunity can be very exciting, but even the most positive change comes […]
When Volatility Arrives, Optimism is Key!
The focus here is on you as an investor! What do you bring to the table in terms of investment experience and personal temperament (emotions) that impacts your investment returns and satisfaction while building your nest egg? October is a seasonal time of the year when investment markets often decline as part of a normal […]
Put Your Eggs In Many Baskets
When their investment savings plummeted in the 2001 stock market crash, Adam and Sonya were concerned, but not panicked. Retirement was a long way out, so they had plenty of time to recover. The couple decided to try their hand at ‘timing the market’ (buying and selling stocks based on expected market fluctuations) to recover […]
How Now Horatio Alger?
Horatio Alger1 was an American writer of novels about impoverished boys rising from humble backgrounds to middle-class security and comfort through hard work, determination, courage and honesty. His writings were characterized by the “rags-to-riches” narrative, which continues to have a formative effect on many entrepreneurs today. The “rags -to-riches” theme is part of the North […]
History is a Good Teacher
Like many young adults, Lindsay took what her parents had to say with a grain of salt when it came to money. A new college graduate with an entry-level job, she was more interested in spending her paycheques than saving them. Saving was for later, she thought. Life was for living. When her father raised […]
What Comes Next?
With Canada and many other countries practicing physical distancing or participating in complete lockdowns because of the COVID-19 virus, thoughts are turning to what the world may look like after the restrictions have been lifted. Many people are expressing a desire for life to return to how it was before the arrival of this public […]
Investing Smart During Uncertain Times
Warren Buffett has a classic rule when it comes to market volatility: “Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful”. Investor anxiety normally tends to rise in step with market volatility because most people are concerned about trying to pick the best time to buy or sell. For instance, making investment […]
The Difference Between Price and Profits
The recent market turmoil triggered by the COVID-19 virus (and its possible impact on economic activity) brings to mind some observations by legendary investor Warren Buffett. During his years of investing, he has famously stated that in the short-run (days, weeks, and months) the investment markets are a voting machine. People buy and sell investments […]
The Magic Wealth Ingredient
There is a legend about a successful financial advisor in Warren Buffett’s stomping grounds of Omaha, Nebraska. It is reported that this advisor has learned the art of communicating the basics of wealth building with the local farmers. The advisor, who we will call Fred Smith, greets clients in his office with a window behind […]
Buy Now, Pay Big Time Later
Brent and Darlene really enjoy their ‘toys’ and their lifestyle. In the last few years, they bought themselves a big screen TV, a stereo system, two expensive new vehicles, a ski boat and took a tropical vacation, mostly on credit. They also used their credit cards to pay for numerous restaurant meals, theatre tickets, hockey […]
NIRP, ZIRP and You
In his early July testimony before Congress, US Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell. Mr. Powell stated that the Fed funds rate will be reduced, given lower than expected U.S. inflation. This follows on the heels of President Trump’s demands for lower interest rates to help support the economy and more specifically the US stock market. […]
Law of Large Numbers
Over the next several years, governments in advanced countries will likely continue to struggle with mounting debt burdens and the associated rising costs of servicing that debt. It is also noteworthy to remember that total government debt continues to increase every year because of deficit spending. So how does the Law of Large Numbers apply […]
Looking at Investment Returns
A major Canadian financial institution ran an investment promotion earlier this year that promised attractive returns for GIC-type investors, who needed higher returns to generate income. While dealing with an advisor from this particular institution on another matter, the conversation turned to the details of their offer. The highlighted promotion offered a much higher monthly […]
Be Prepared For Emergencies & Opportunities
Randy worked for a small business. When the owner died suddenly, the business accounts were frozen and it took several weeks before they could be accessed to meet payroll. Randy had trouble meeting his financial obligations and had to find a new job. Jane worked at a small company for many years. When the owner […]
The Role of Luck in Your Planning
One of the most interesting facets of the financial services industry is how so many people tend to invest their money and plan their financial affairs by chasing trends and doing what is “popular”. For example, many investors like a “sure thing” and will often pile into an investment sector that is hot. As human […]
The Often Unasked Question
With the December market correction in both the US, Canada and elsewhere slowly receding into the past, it is a good time to review what exactly happened and how clients have reacted to the recent events. To put December into context, it was the most severe correction late in the year since the early 1930’s. […]
