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 up...
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...
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 the...
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 of...
Good planning relieves stress, promotes overall well-being This is a challenging time for building your wealth and saving for retirement. A new study conducted by Leger Research for the Financial Planning Standards Council (FPSC) noted that money is the number-one...
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 R.S....
Remember this one key principle of investing When you’re relaxing at the beach or cottage, or doing the grand tour somewhere, you don’t want to spend much time fretting about your investments. If you’re continually worried that stock markets are on the verge of a...
Active versus passive investment styles A friend of mine says she invests in a “couch potato portfolio,” and her returns are higher than my portfolio of mutual funds, which the company says is actively managed! I’m not sure I understand what a “couch potato” portfolio...
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. Catchy...
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 investment...
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...