Monthly Market Update for December 2015
Stock markets had an uncharacteristically bad December. The US Federal Reserve finally raised interest rates, while the Bank of Canada left interest rates alone.
Is Your ‘Active’ Mutual Fund Really an Index Fund in Disguise?
To justify the high fees on mutual funds, their advocates will often use the argument that you are paying for the skill of the portfolio manager who is actively managing the fund. But just how active are most mutual funds? Active Share A measure called active share can help determine just how active your mutual fund is. Active share compares […]
Monthly Market Update for November 2015
Volatility continued its decline in November from the high levels seen in August and September. Performance was flat to negative on most stock markets and commodities had difficult month.
Your Year-End Financial Checklist
With December fast approaching, now is a good time to start thinking about year-end financial planning. While December is usually a busy month for most people, a little advance planning can save you come tax time. The usual focus is on tax loss selling (which we will get to), but there are other things to consider that will impact your […]
Forecasting Asset Class Returns
What sort of returns can I expect from my investments? This is a question that everyone wants to know the answer to before they invest. Whether you are investing for retirement, investing for your child’s education or just investing for a rainy day, having a realistic idea of what your investments may return is important. If high expected returns are […]
Monthly Market Update for October 2015 – Best Month in 4+ Years
Volatility subsided in October from the high levels seen in August and September and many stock markets went on to post their best month in over 4 years. Canadians went to the polls and selected the first new federal government in almost 10 years, the financial implications of which won’t be felt until sometime next year.
What Are the Benefits of Working with a Portfolio Manager?
Usually only investors with large accounts, such as those over $500,000 or $1 million, can get access to a Portfolio Manager. If that doesn’t include you, there are financial advisors available at banks or mutual fund companies you can work with. Online investment advisors, like ModernAdvisor, were created to bring the service and expertise of Portfolio Managers to smaller investors. […]
Where to Put Your Emergency Fund
Having an emergency fund means that you don’t need to rely on credit cards or other loans when an unexpected bill or unemployment happens. Where should I put my emergency fund? So you have saved up 3-6 months of living expenses as an emergency fund. Your emergency fund should be: easily accessible liquid unlikely to lose value You don’t want […]
