When it comes to investing, it’s important that you invest your time as well as your money. That’s particularly true of portfolio planning.

For example, if you invest solely in Canadian   Read More

Diversification is the best way to control risk in your portfolio of mutual funds. But there are several ways of achieving broad geographical diversification. A global fund may be the   Read More

Americans take pride in what’s called American exceptionalism. They were the first country to practise democracy in modern times. They were the first with no monarchy or aristocracy. America was   Read More

Mark Halpern, a Certified Financial Planner and Trust and Estate Practitioner, says that in his business he encounters many people who are well established and working hard with good jobs.   Read More

Some investors find that when they need a list of their securities to undertake some portfolio management or tax planning, they have to go on a safari of sorts, fumbling   Read More

Most investors would consider a loss of, say, 30 per cent in a year a disaster. Many would be completely shocked to lose money over 10 years. But what about   Read More

Quick, now: can you name the new whipping boy in the investment world? If you said bonds, you’d be right. After last year’s “taper tantrum” — i.e., the sell-off in   Read More

THE MARKET THIS MONTH: June is in the weakest six-month period for stock prices. Ongoing rising stocks and a long time with no stock market setback are risks. If a   Read More

Equity markets are fairly valued and bonds are expensive.

If you want your investments to outperform the overall markets, you’ll have to buy some of your securities when prices are low.   Read More

This overly bullish market may be expecting a pullback this summer. Time to.. Get Defensive!

There has been a noticeable rotation lately out of higher-risk securities such as biotech, U.S. Small   Read More

Knowing when to sell stocks is as important as knowing when to buy

Whether you’re a professional money manager, or an individual retail investor, success in the stock market comes down   Read More

Analysts follow as many as 20 stocks, most of which are rated “buys.” Of those buys, an analyst has one or two special favorites seen as most suitable for new   Read More

World markets currently less desirable than developed markets, where some of the best opportunities lie in the oil patch..

March was a volatile month for the markets, with worries over global   Read More

The higher you set your return expectations from stock-based mutual funds, the more risk you take on. And taking higher risk does not guarantee the expected reward. Indeed, it may   Read More

What to do about common stocks

Many investors try to deal with the uncertainty of investing by diversifying. But there’s more to sound diversification than simply buying a variety of stocks.   Read More

Building an investment portfolio is a particularly difficult task at potential turning points in the market.

At market lows, investors not only have to be aware of additional downside risk, but   Read More

Your house is likely your biggest investment. And your job is likely your biggest source of income. As a result, invest in a way that diversifies away from your house   Read More

Five spring times ago, the doomsayers were running roughshod. This spring, the principal worries are of how much longer a bull run for the ages can last, how big the   Read More

Announcing a REAL target for your retirement savings goals.

For a couple of issues of this newsletter advisory, I have been (more than) hinting at how the retirement/planning complex has been   Read More

Correction will coincide with six-month seasonal downswing

We’re still tiptoeing through queasy stock markets. So, don’t rest easy just yet.

A correction of some sort is under way — one that neatly   Read More

Worries over emerging markets continue, but North America looks poised for a recovery

The stock market has been in quite a funk these last few weeks.

Expectations of a reduction in stimulus   Read More

Continue to pursue a dollar-cost averaging program, emphasizing conservative, diversified, large-cap funds. Emerging markets hold appeal for aggressive investors.

OUR CURRENT THINKING: Notwithstanding the possibility of a sharp market correction   Read More

When you buy stocks in sectors and sub-sectors of the market, keep your goals in mind. If you’re a conservative, income-seeking investor, focus on utilities, financial stocks and consumer goods   Read More

We applaud the Bank of Montreal (TSX:BMO) for taking the initiative to investigate how ordinary Canadians approach the dilemma of figuring out how they’re going to amass enough money to   Read More

When the baby boomers retire in large numbers, they’ll need a flow of goods. To pay for them, retired boomers will have to sell financial assets including stocks. The baby   Read More

Maximize your TFSA contribution in 2014

When the Government of Canada introduced Tax Free Savings Accounts effectively beginning in 2009, it set the contribution limit at $5,000 per year.

The plan was   Read More

Individual investors once had few asset classes (or types of investments) to choose from: There were common stocks, fixed-income investments (including preferred shares) and cash such as Treasury bills or   Read More

The quest for income can lead in many directions. And capital markets offer plenty of tools for the income investor’s needs. But a little planning can make things easier and   Read More

This $99,516 portfolio for income shows how you can buy stocks and trusts to receive a regular paycheque. Seven stocks pay dividends at different times of the year. Cycle 1   Read More

Some of my research involves sentiment indicators, which measure the level of bullish or bearish behavior by two distinct groups of investors.

One group, sometimes referred to as the “smart   Read More

Specialty funds can be the most rewarding kind available. But they don’t necessarily stay that way for long. Astute, aggressive investors will recognize this and may move among specialty funds   Read More

Announcing a REAL target for your retirement savings goals.

For a couple of issues of this newsletter advisory, I have been (more than) hinting at how the retirement/planning complex has been   Read More

It’s best to diversify across the five main sectors of the economy: finance, utilities, consumer products and services, manufacturing and resources. Each of these broad sectors is made up of   Read More

Our Investment Planning Committee believes the stocks in the column below have little appeal and should underperform the market over the next six months. We view them as holds or   Read More

As 2014 continues to unfold, both gold and silver are starting to perform impressively.

Both metals appear to have made major bottoms following gold’s plunge to US$1,180 an ounce at the   Read More

At first glance, it appears that small stocks do much better than big stocks.

But look closer and both groups do about the same most of the time.

From 1926 through 2006,   Read More

Where to put new money now

Continue to add new money to existing positions. Emphasize those positions that have suffered relative short-term weakness. 

OUR CURRENT THINKING: Stock markets in North America and   Read More

The Toronto market is up in peaceful fashion.

Please note the below data is to February 21, and the Toronto market has risen since then,

We are far enough into the New   Read More

THE MARKET THIS MONTH: April is the last month in the best six-month period for stocks. The U.S. and global economies are expected to grow faster in 2014 and raise   Read More

Just when folks are told to steer clear of certain investments, the trend changes. But that’s typical, is it not?

At the start of this year, the market mavens told investors   Read More

On this page, we outline what we expect the economy and stocks to do over the next 180 days. This assists us in listing 25 stocks that we expect to   Read More

One of the most important investment principles you can follow is to sidestep investments you don’t understand.

It’s a principle that some of the most successful, well-known investors, such as Warren   Read More

THE MARKET THIS MONTH: March is in the best six-month period for stocks (from November through April). Also, the U.S. and global economics  are expected to grow in 2014 and   Read More

If stock markets correct in the near term, we advise you to add to your holdings when prices are down. Among funds that make good candidates for buying during corrections   Read More

Rebalancing your portfolio to your long-term asset allocation targets can be a good, useful part of your investment strategy, as it can protect you from harmful portfolio drift. In addition,   Read More

– Mark Halpern, CFP, TEP

Are you an investor who owns shares of a private holding company or investment corporation? Are you nearing retirement, or already retired?

Proper financial planning helped get   Read More

– John Stephenson, CFA

After the banner finish to the market last year, the price action on the S&P 500 has so far been somewhat dismal with stocks consolidating and digesting   Read More

Invest gradually. That way you’ll be in a position to take advantage of lower prices when stock-market corrections occur.

• Invest the core of your portfolio in conservative equity funds   Read More

– Keith Richards

Take advantage of short-lived reprieves to buy U.S. Dollars

The loonie recently cracked $0.93, a key support level against the U.S. dollar, fueling the likelihood of an even bigger decline.

Moreover,   Read More

– Ken Norquay, CMT


Is there an economic indicator that can help the average investor sort out the long-term ups and downs of the financial markets?


In my book, Beyond the Bull,   Read More

Markets have behaved perversely in recent months. Good economic news was sometimes greeted with a selloff as investors feared better times would only encourage the U.S. Federal Reserve to begin   Read More

Some investors bought gold for protection against potential inflation and paper currencies. But deflation is more a threat. And gold has drawbacks.

Gold is trading at US$1,318 an ounce. This is   Read More