All about loads, fees, commissions, and MERs When it comes to investment funds, fees and costs can be both complicated and contentious. What’s the difference between an MER and a front-end load? Are fund commissions deductible? What are trailer fees? To help clear...
Or should you be even more cautious? Canadian bonds have been on a tear these past few weeks. Yes, bond prices climb as yields fall, and the Bank of Canada’s surprise interest rate cut on Jan. 14 helped goose Canadian bond prices. In fact, a good proxy for the...
Don’t set impossible financial goals The New Year is a great time for making resolutions and for taking control of your finances. Easy to say, but not so easy to do! When you resolve something vague like, “I promise to spend less in 2015,” that’s a resolution that...
The steep ‘peace-of-mind’ premium Both mutual funds and segregated funds provide investors the opportunity to invest in stocks and bonds managed by a professional money manager. The managers of both mutual funds and segregated funds look to invest the funds...
Periodic volatility means opportunity I wish they’d make up their minds, don’t you? To listen to assorted talking heads in the business media, you’d think that the current slump in crude oil prices to around US$60 per barrel is something just short of the end of...
Why they’re important to your financial health Your investment portfolio isn’t carved in stone. These days it’s most likely saved in a digital file somewhere. Every month, you should be receiving an itemized statement of what’s in that digital file as of the close...
3 key principles of Madonna’s pop star staying power Long-time pop queen Madonna really hit the big time with the debut of her second album “Like a Virgin.” That was 30 years ago, and she’s been a pop celebrity ever since. Success like that is tough to replicate....
Trading by headline is a sure way to lose money Q – I have both mutual funds and exchange-traded funds in a self directed brokerage account. They’ve suffered some pretty big losses over the past couple of weeks. Should I be selling my equity funds and switching to...
Bonds offer safe haven, but learn the ropes before you jump in Q – With the stock market plunging, I have been looking to invest in something a bit safer. So I’ve been considering either bonds or bonds funds. What are the risks of investing in bonds? – Asked by...
Robyn Thompson is regularly featured in The Toronto Star’s “Money Makeover” series by Deanne Gage. In this recent post, Robyn helps a couple in their mid-fifties who have amassed $1.3 million in investments, but still need to pay off a loan and clean up and...
Start with the basics, and the rest falls into place Q – I am a self-directed investor and mainly trade stocks through an online brokerage service. Do you have any tips for a novice on how to set up a plan to become a successful investor? – Asked by Terri W., Fort...
How bank deposits are costing you and what to do about it Thinking of saving a few bucks with your local bank? Forget it! The days of putting a little something aside in your “savings” account are long gone. That’s because these days, you’re earning just about...