Balanced investors should now hold about two per cent of their total investment portfolio in cash, which is up from the one per cent we previously advised you to hold.   Read More

Some lesser-developed countries look attractive. But investing abroad exposes you to considerable risks. So your strategic investment objectives should include finding safer ways to profit. One is to buy the   Read More

It’s crucial to create—and stick with—an investment plan. Here’s how Keith Richards, portfolio manager at Barrie, Ontario-based ValueTrend Wealth Management approaches the investment strategy of risk/reward-based trading.
After reading an article   Read More

Usually, the higher a company’s cash flow, the better. That’s because companies can use their cash flow to grow by investing in plant and equipment or by making acquisitions. Companies   Read More

Underpriced slower-growing companies are often better investments than overpriced fast-growing companies. In other words, value investing often pays more than growth investing.                  
Jeremy Siegel is a professor   Read More

As we enter the second half of 2015, we are maintaining the asset allocation advice we’ve had in place for some time now. To start with, we recommend you continue   Read More

Sending someone away from home to university for four years can cost more than $100,000. That’s taking into account tuition, books, transportation, room and board, and incidentals. Government cutbacks, inflation,   Read More

Six years ago was the right time for aggressive investing. The time for extreme caution is coming soon. That’s the market outlook from Ken Norquay, CMT and author of the   Read More

Knowing when to sell stocks, as we point out from time to time, is one of the most pitfall-riddled aspects of strategic investing. Selling is a skill nobody ever masters.   Read More

Is now the time to sell your equities? Or is this really the question you should be asking yourself? No equity investment is immune when the stock market outlook suggests   Read More

The 10 conglomerates followed by The Investment Reporter have out-performed the market recently. But they can suffer from some of the drawbacks outlined below. Often strategic investment planning for ‘De-conglomeration’   Read More

Overall, the stock market outlook remains volatile, while the bond market outlook could be on the verge of a tantrum. Here’s where to find some comfort food for the soul—and   Read More

Conventional wisdom is, well, conventional—and often inappropriate. Sunil Vidyarthi, president of Oakville, Ont.-based Value Sciences Inc., says the wisdom of putting bonds in your RRSP is flawed. In fact stocks   Read More

Few gamblers make money. But if taking the occasional punt gives you some fun, then go ahead. We wouldn’t deny you the thrill. But be aware that it is a   Read More

When a security you hold loses more than 40 per cent, it’s tempting to just simply take your losses and move on. But this type of move is more applicable   Read More

ADRs (American Depositary Receipts) make it easy for you to buy overseas companies and provide you with an extra measure of safety that you would not get with a direct   Read More

Benjamin Graham wrote that investors should ignore the stock market most of the time. They should buy shares that the market greatly undervalues. And sell shares that the market has   Read More

Conglomerates often get a bad rap for being a jack of all trades. But for investors seeking diversification, these multi-sector stocks can be just the ticket. That’s the word from   Read More

The Money Reporter tells you where to get the best GIC interest rates, best bond investments from both government and corporate issuers, and the best straight and floating rate preferred   Read More

John Stephenson, portfolio manager and president of Toronto-based Stephenson & Company Capital Management Inc., says the recent dramatic decline in the greenback is unlikely to be sustained for an extended   Read More

Rules of thumb and popular stock market indicators may have some place in your long term investment strategy. But probably only for your amusement.  Pay attention to them only when   Read More

After posting modest returns in 2014, Canadian bonds have gotten off to a strong start so far this year. Year to date, the FTSE Universe Bond Index has gained 4.2   Read More

Gold is an excellent electrical conductor—but copper does the job just as well and is a whole lot cheaper.  Paul de Sousa, executive vice president of Bullion Management Group in   Read More

Examine the risk-versus-reward relationship of a security before you take the plunge. Strategic investment planning starts with an honest appraisal of your own risk tolerance.
There are many investments you can   Read More

Behavioural finance author Ken Norquay says generals need to be cunning, decisive, resourceful, while privates are loyal, obedient, self-sacrificing. As an investor, you need to establish the best long term   Read More

Nature is springing back to life. But the markets are likely to correct significantly. Rebalance to emphasize cash and low-beta stocks. Keith Richards, portfolio manager at Barrie, Ont.-based ValueTrend suggests   Read More

It’s late to sell cheaper Canadian stocks, convert to pricey U.S. dollars and buy costlier U.S. stocks. This strategy is apt to backfire. Many of The Investment Reporter’s Key Canadian   Read More

The Money Reporter regularly publishes tables of recommended government bonds, corporate bonds and preferred shares suitable for income-oriented investors. The monthly Fact and Advice Sheet also gives guidance for current   Read More

Making money with your investments is simple. You don’t need an elaborate theory, a complex formula, a degree in economics or a crystal ball. You need an investment strategy. Your   Read More

While the United States is entering an extended period of monetary tightening, Europe is beginning its experiment of unbridled and unrestrained monetary stimulus. One thing that investors know from the   Read More

If Warren Buffett had followed the advice of The Investment Reporter 15 years ago he might today be the world’s richest man–not number 3.
We came up with this admittedly tongue-in-cheek   Read More

There appears to be lots of cheer as the markets keep rising. But the 200-day moving average suggests this is a bear . . . in bull’s clothing. Understanding institutional   Read More

Investors should diversify across many ‘asset classes’. One of these asset classes, of course, is fixed-income investments, like bonds. The trouble is, with interest rates so low (even on long-term   Read More

Limit the risk of your holdings. Adopt an investment strategy that will let you profit from—rather than be victimized by—bear market conditions.   Read More

Although cheap gas is great for motorists, it could wreak havoc with Canada’s energy sector, as well as the market for junk bonds.
Central banks throughout the West last year found   Read More

The European Central Bank, or ECB, ushered in a new era by launching an aggressive bond-buying program in January. The euro zone is one of the global economy’s biggest trouble   Read More

Is your self confidence waning? Do you feel you may be better off putting your money in a mutual fund and leaving stock selection to the fund’s professional managers? You   Read More

Investing for current income requires an entirely different way of thinking than does investing for growth. But mutual funds that offer current income as their main purpose still report their   Read More

 “As a technical analyst, I tend to avoid making longer-term predictions about markets, sectors or commodity prices. I find that forecasting market movements or events out beyond a few months   Read More

Putting money into your Registered Retirement Savings Plan, or RRSP, is a great way to start planning for your retirement. And there’s no better time to start thinking about your   Read More

It’s the job of any financial writer to see through fresh eyes, to look for traps and false assumptions in the world of money. Investors who weathered the stormy bear markets of 2000 to 2003 and 2008 to 2009 know only too well what can happen to the unwary.   Read More

Oil prices have plummeted since June, 2014. Other commodity prices have declined. This has hurt the share prices of the producers. Oil companies are a lot cheaper than they were. The same is true of many mining companies that we review   Read More

Recent market action indicates why it’s essential to hold Canadian equity index ETFs as part of a larger, well-diversified portfolio. Heavy concentration in just a few industry sectors makes Canadian   Read More

Super Bowl XLIX will be played this Sunday. And for many inveterate sports fans, this is the pièce de résistance of the TV sports year. Yes siree. Endless hours of   Read More

Writing in The TaxLetter, Mark Halpern, a Certified Financial Planner and Trust and Estate Practitioner with Markham, Ontario-based illnessPROTECTION.com outlined several easy ways to help you and your family find   Read More

Bonds account for much of Canadians’ investments. And bond funds make up a large part of Canada’s mutual fund business. But investing in bond funds can deny you the very   Read More

This past year, 2014, was a difficult one for Europe. According to estimates provided by The Economist, the euro area is likely to have grown just 0.8 per cent for   Read More

Where should you put new money now?

Continue to add to stock funds, emphasizing diversified, conservative offerings. Longer-term, risk-tolerant investors may want to be more aggressive with specialized funds.

We think the   Read More

Puts and calls may seem a little bit exotic at first, but their potential to earn you some handsome extra income may well be worth it.

At the Money Reporter, we   Read More

Dividend Re-Investment Plans, or “DRIPs,” can assist you in building your wealth. You can instruct companies with DRIPs to reinvest your dividends into new shares. You can build your wealth   Read More

Hamilton, Ont.-based Ken Norquay is a CMT (Chartered Market Technician) and the author of the behavioural finance book Beyond the Bull which discusses the impact of your personality on your   Read More

Although many investors buy the units of real estate investment trusts, or REITS, and other high dividend-paying stocks for their attractive income — and maybe also for capital appreciation —   Read More