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Sell in May – and watch your gains go away
Why market timing strategies are bad for your portfolio “Sell in May, go away, and don’t come back til Labour Day.” This year especially, investors might be tempted to do so, because markets have been on a tear, and the experts say they’re due for a correction....
Cheer up! You might have more retirement income than you think
Where’s your retirement income hiding? Where will my retirement income come from? A worryingly large number of higher-tax-bracket individuals I talk to these days ask me that same question. After looking at their Canada Pension Plan payment, perhaps some employer...
Why you need to file your tax return by May 5
Being frazzled, forgetful, and chronically chaotic is no excuse Sure, the government has given us an extra five days, until May 5, to procrastinate on filing our tax returns. That’s because their computer system was hacked (this is the Canadian government,...
Creating a retirement income stream to 100
Annuities are just one tool in your arsenal One of the first questions many of my high net worth clients ask me is whether they’ll outlive their money. Now, if someone comes to you with $500,000 to $1 million to manage, you’d think they’d be feeling pretty...
Recovering the angels’ share
How to prevent inflation evaporation in your portfolio Scottish distillers call the routine evaporation of a small amount of whisky during the distilling process “the angels’ share.” Likewise, inflation is quietly evaporating your retirement nest egg, your...
Give yourself some credit
And some tax deductions too! Yes, I know, no one wants to think about taxes. But tax-filing deadline is April 30, and now is a great time to make sure you’re taking advantage of every single tax break you can get. Besides the exemption for the basic personal amount...
RESPs and the U.S. residency trap
Are Canadian kids living in the U.S. eligible for RESPs? While relatives such as grandparents are eager to contribute to their grandkids’ education through a Registered Education Savings Plan, is it even possible if the student lives in the U.S. even though he or...
How to tell if your portfolio is really performing
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...
Six rules to help you survive the mortgage market
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,...
Why you can’t invest like Warren Buffett
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...
The truth about bond funds in your RRSP
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...
How to avoid selling at the wrong time
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...