When the final numbers are tallied for 2017, Canada’s economy is expected to lead the G-7 group of industrialized economies1 and come in second only to Spain among all developed nations. Considering that the Canadian economy was recently a laggard, the speed and magnitude of the economic rebound are remarkable. Growth is widespread What’s most impressive about the Canadian economy […]
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Aging populations and slower economic growth are becoming part of the new normal, but there are a number of things the world will need in the years ahead — from infrastructure and technology, to health care and energy. For investors, this spells opportunity. Sector-focused mutual funds are an easy and convenient way to tap into these longterm growth themes. You […]
Read more ›Couples looking to reduce life insurance costs may want to explore the possibilities of a joint term-life policy. A joint policy is a great way to make sure your family is covered should either partner die prematurely and will cost less in premiums than two individual policies. A joint first-to-die policy, for example, might be 10% to 20% lower in […]
Read more ›Interest rates remain at historical lows. This was meant to be a temporary measure to stimulate the economy after the financial crisis of 2008. And the consensus has been that rates will have to rise at some point — first in the United States, where the economy is performing better than in Canada. On the other side of the interest-rate […]
Read more ›A 2016 survey (1) found that Canadian investors like you value the advice they receive from their advisors. In fact, a remarkable 97% of those surveyed said that they are completely satisfied with the advice they receive from their financial advisor, rating it 10 out of 10. Below are some other highlights from the survey. (1) The Investment Funds Institute […]
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We don’t hesitate to insure our most important assets — our lives, our homes, our ability to earn a living. But what have you done to protect your retirement lifestyle from the possibility that you will run out of money before you run out of living? Consider the statistics: If you’re a 60-year-old woman, you can expect to live to […]
Read more ›As another cottage season gets under way, it’s an ideal time to think about what will happen to this potentially valuable asset when the time comes for the ultimate wind-up: Who will take over the family vacation spot? Business owners face a similar dilemma, especially when more than one child is involved and they have varied interests. In both scenarios, […]
Read more ›Mutual fund investors can be forgiven for feeling like the latest waves of market volatility have been going on for ages. Because the truth is, they have. Fortunately, your portfolio has the benefits of these five built-in shock absorbers. 1. A solid foundation Your portfolio has been carefully constructed to help you stay on track to your long-term goals through […]
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According to a widely reported study released by a Canadian investment bank earlier this year, Canadians are sitting on $75 billion in excess savings “Cash”. That’s a lot of money earning interest at today’s low rates. Fund managers even have a name for this phenomenon. They call it “cash drag” — too much cash can literally drag down performance over […]
Read more ›MUTUAL FUND STRATEGIES In the context of mutual fund investing, Larry Kleinmintz says divergence refers to investments that move independently of one another. It’s important because too much correlation can hamper long-term growth potential. If your mutual funds are concentrated in a particular sector or asset class, it can leave you vulnerable to a downturn in that area. There are […]
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