Category: Latest

The following is my opinion of the differences between ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) and SRI (Socially Responsible Investing).  And the benefit of ESG: 1. SRI is a negative screen.  For example, an investor does not want to invest in tobacco companies, gambling companies, companies that make or sell guns and or other areas.  2. ESG […]

What are the differences between a RRSP and a TFSA? Both are ways to save money and reduce the taxes you pay the government.    When you contribute to a RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan) the government effectively gives you back the tax you paid on that component of your income.  So if you contribute […]

Is there a market correction on the horizon?  Some say “yes”, as the market recovery is eight years long and thus we are due for a recession.  And some say “no” as businesses continue to do well.  However, what we can count on is that no one knows. Last week I was in the USA […]

How currency impacts your return When you invest in a foreign investment (i.e. US stock or global mutual fund), the return you receive in Canadian dollars is positively or negatively impacted by how your home currency (in this case Canadian dollars) moves against the foreign investment’s currency. For example in 2015, one Canadian dollar bought […]

Most financial types like me, present diversity as diversification in terms of asset classes (stocks vs. bonds), countries (Canada vs. the rest of the world), industries/sectors (energy vs. banking) and/or different types of investment managers. However, I suggest we look at diversity in an additional way. The enclosed study was published in 2012 by Credit […]

In Step 2 we reviewed how much you need to retire.  I encourage you to read this Step as its simple yet fulsome.  However, if you’d like a quick estimate: How much do you spend each year on your lifestyle?   Say you spend $5,000/month or $60,000 per year ($5,000 X 12 months).  Now deduct what […]

In Step 4 I discussed how finding and keeping a good manager is “all about the people”.  The other day I was driving in Toronto and noticed several signs advertising Fidelity Mutual Funds and specifically that one could invest with “Joel”, a famous portfolio manager.  I was thrilled to see the investment industry catching on […]

Knowing your current asset mix on an ongoing basis is important because it indicates to you your portfolio’s “risk budget” in terms of volatility. Cash and bonds have less volatility than stocks.  Therefore the more cash and bonds you have, the more conservative your portfolio is and vis versa. The asset mix for you is […]

The reason why knowing what you are pay in fees for your investment portfolio is important is because the return of your portfolio will be what you make less what you pay. The higher the fees, the lower your return. Background The investment industry is quite complex in terms of fees. The government is asking […]