Make sure you’re using the right investment benchmark If you have an investment portfolio, you’ve probably seen statements from your advisor or broker showing how your portfolio has performed over the past month, quarter, and year. I’ve frequently been asked why...
Take on life’s biggest debt…and win! Even though much of Canada is still covered with a thick layer of snow and ice, the so-called spring real estate market is gathering momentum. And banks, finance companies, and lawyers are all gearing up to take their cut, mostly...
And why you should follow his advice anyway Warren Buffett is the most famous investor in the world. Also one of the world’s richest men. There’s a direct line of causality between the two. So it’s not surprising that his annual letter to shareholders of his...
Not the pristine, risk-free investments you thought they were As RRSP season rapidly draws to a close (the deadline for contributions eligible for a 2013 tax deduction is March 3), I’ve been fielding plenty of questions about investments for an RRSP. One that...
One of the biggest mistakes do-it-yourself investors make is to sell investments at precisely the wrong time. Mostly, this is because smaller investors who “play the market” tend to be “reactive” rather than “proactive.” And mostly, they react to the two primal...
How to spot the signs and signals that make the perfect match Q. Hi, I’m in search of a new financial advisor to help me with some short-term and longer term planning. I make good money and also have stock options with my company. I want to know how to reduce the tax...
You may have more than you think “I don’t have any money!” Sound familiar? That’s the reason most often cited for not contributing to a Registered Retirement Savings Plan. And it does seem like a problem, especially if you’re living paycheque to paycheque (and plenty...
Maybe it should be more than just cash Do you know what you have in your RRSP? I don’t mean how much money; I mean what kinds of investments. If you answered “guaranteed investment certificates” or “cash savings account,” welcome to the very large club! If so, you’re...
Yes, you should have both a TFSA and an RRSP It’s awards season again. And the red carpets are unrolling so thick and fast that they’re becoming a pedestrian hazard. In the lead-up to Academy Awards next month, we’ve already seen the People’s Choice Awards and the...
Don’t put your portfolio at risk! As a financial advisor and professional planner, I’ve seen most every investment mistake novice investors are likely to make. And around this time of year, when I undertake client portfolio reviews, clients often seem overcome with...
When the holiday-spending credit card bills start coming in this month, some of us will pay off the balance to zero and calmly go on as before. Others – many others – among us will add it to the ever-growing pile of debt, try to make a minimum payment on at least one...
Have you been naughty this holiday season? Financially, at least, many of us tip over to the “naughty” side, overextending our spending and maxing out our credit cards. I won’t get into other kinds of overindulgence here, but you know what they are. With the financial...