Two years ago, as the stock market staggered toward bottom and the global financial system teetered on the brink, many investors sobbed that they would never again buy anything more adventurous than a GIC. These days, after watching world markets double from their 2009 lows, a lot of those same people are once again gobbling up stocks. Despite the Japanese earthquake, Middle East turmoil and monumental global imbalances, equity prices keep steaming ahead.
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February 22, 2011
Investing
Investing
Every investor wants to beat the market. But for many, that’s easier said than done. So when a group of experts recently came out with three strategies that posted much better returns than the S&P 500 over the past decade, they drew plenty of attention. But the big question remains: Even if they worked in the past, will they keep working in the future?
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February 5, 2011
Dividends
Investing
In the world of investing, there are two different types of stocks you can choose from: non-dividend paying and high dividend stocks. While some investors prefer to invest their money in a company who will invest profits back into the company for more capital gain, other investors see a number of benefits in investing their money in companies offering dividends. High dividend yield stocks are not for everyone.
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February 3, 2011
RRSP, TFSA
Investing
Much has been written about the relative merits of saving in RRSPs and TFSAs. The discussion usually comes down to a close call based on some elaborate calculations. For me the choice is clear. For those who make a good living, marginal tax rates are somewhere near 45%. Given $10,000 of income burning a hole in your pockets, the choice is to put the $10,000 in an RRSP or to pay $4500 in taxes and put $5500 in a TFSA.
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Dividends are attractive to many investors, and they are especially useful to people such as retirees who are looking for regular income. Some stocks pay dividends while others do not, and the size of the dividend varies by stock.
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January 20, 2011
Investing
Investing
Investors today have more investment options than were available to the average investor just a few decades ago. While having multiple options is usually a good thing, too many options can cause system overload and lead many people to avoid making decisions. Investing is a broad topic that often seems intimidating to people who are new to investing. And that is understandable – there are dozens of investment vehicles and thousands of investment options. Before we let analysis paralysis get the best of us, let’s take a look at options for the first time investor.
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January 19, 2011
Investing
Investing
Some of the most active companies traded Wednesday January 19, 2011 on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange
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January 13, 2011
Investing
Investing
There’s always some risk when you invest, no matter what investments you choose. Even guaranteed investments like Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs) have built-in risk: the risk your money won’t grow fast enough to meet your goals.
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Investors should consider dividends when building their portfolios. Although dividends are often viewed as boring, they can be quite glamorous given the potential they offer. And, as yield dwindles in the bond markets, it’s increasingly important to consider alternatives for income portfolios.
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January 10, 2011
RRSP
Investing,RRSP
Since 1957, when registered retirement savings plans were launched by Ottawa as tax-deferral incentive for Canadians to save for retirement outside of traditional work and government pensions, the New Year has become a time when millions of us take stock of where we are financially and how much we should contribute to our plans. The plans got off to a quiet, slow start. But by the 1970s, they were part of our financial fabric, well woven into the plans of those looking for security far down the road.
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