Stock markets are setting records daily. Ignore it! “The market will fluctuate.” That old bit of market wisdom is ascribed to Gilded Age financier J.P. Morgan, and is as true today as it was a hundred years ago. The primal emotions of fear and greed are ultimately...
Bond ETFs retreat as rates edge up You might have noticed that the shorter-term returns of the broader index-tracking bond ETFs, such as the iShares Core Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF (TSX: XBB), have been sliding recently. Is it time to switch out of passive,...
Professionals bring unique skills to the table It seems like there are “financial advisors” around every corner. Trouble is, they all seem to offer different services and have different qualifications. And they all charge different fees. Do you really need a lawyer...
The danger of investing by headline We’re once again seeing the geopolitical situation heating up – North Korea, U.K. elections, French elections, Trump’s trade threats, and so on. Is it time to sell stocks and switch to gold and bonds? How did that strategy work...
Five key questions to ask Horizons ETF Management, a leading Canadian provider of exchange-traded funds, recently announce that it will be cancelling the Advisor-class units (that is, units that pay a fee to advisors who recommend them) on its Canadian-listed...
Common investment errors can hit your portfolio hard Investors who sold out of equities after Brexit and again just after the Trump election victory quite possibly lost money last year, even though the big stock market indices turned in strong gains. Turns out they...
Skewed asset allocation can change your risk profile Q – I believe that my investment portfolio is fairly well balanced, with about 60% in equities and 40% in fixed income assets. I do trade from time to time, but generally I stick to a buy-and-hold strategy. But...
Trump’s victory has many concerned about market volatility With the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president, many investors believe that a new era of political uncertainty is going to increase stock market volatility. And that leads to questions about whether it...
Why it pays to pay attention to MERs As new fee transparency rules for advisors and money managers start to kick in, more investors have been asking me about difference between the costs of various mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. It’s a valid question, and...
The trouble with precious metals, gems, coins, and commodities Getting worried about the outcome of the U.S. election? If so, join the growing club. Many pundits believe that whatever the outcome, the result could be negative for financial markets, particularly...
Optimal asset allocation hinges on your risk profile Investors often come across the terms “tactical” and “strategic” asset allocation.” While it might sound like some sort of board game, the terms actually refer to two different types of portfolio management. And...
A good financial advisor can get your portfolio working again There’s nothing quite like the thrill of online trading. And a couple of really solid wins can get the adrenaline going. But for some reason you don’t seem to be ahead of the game. Your monthly cost in...