Investor emotions are a portfolio’s worst enemy. Fortunately they are also predictable, following a route in sync with market cycles. The peak is the middle of a bull market, when investors are most optimistic. The trough is during a bear market, when investor emotions are correspondingly low. [Read more]
Although it’s understood that stock markets fluctuate, volatility still makes investors uneasy. Unfortunately, nervousness about market turbulence can cause them to make short-term decisions with detrimental impacts on long-term portfolio performance. Investors hastily sell but are usually [Read more]
Wise investors have dividend-paying investments in their portfolios and, if they don’t require the income, are even wiser to consider dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs). Instead of delivering cash payouts, DRIPs reinvest the money to purchase additional shares. There are many advantages. To [Read more]
As Canadian investors contemplate tax season, they think about efficiency. Do I pay too much in taxes? How can I minimize them? One answer comes in the form of flow-through shares, which provide a legitimate tax-assisted investment vehicle to save or defer taxes. Flow-through shares are a [Read more]
Mutual funds have long been a favorite of Canadian investors. According to the Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC), 4.6 million Canadian households own mutual funds representing $1.14 trillion in assets. Many opt for mutual funds for their simplified approach to investing. However, [Read more]
As one year passes and another unfolds, it’s time to make Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) contributions. They’ve been around since 2009 and yet Canadians still largely misunderstand them. The annual BMO TFSA Report says 66 per cent claim to be knowledgeable about TFSAs, but only 22 percent [Read more]
A BMO Psychology of Investing report revealed some worrisome data on investor emotions that included; two-thirds of those polled have not been in total control of their emotions when investing and; a majority of Canadians have invested on impulse at least once. That’s bad news for portfolios [Read more]
Independent research and consultancy firm ETFGI reports there are 5,410 exchange-traded products (ETPs) globally, with 10,477 listings from 222 providers listed on 60 exchanges. These ETPs represent US$2.62 trillion as at the end of July. The most popular ETP is the Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). [Read more]
If not placed in the context of either market history or investment horizon, a significant market drop will cause some investors to doubt the wisdom of their investment plans and become nervous. Then they jeopardize their long-term portfolios by making short-term decisions during the turbulence. [Read more]
Research and consultancy firm ETFGI reports that globally listed assets of ETFs and exchange-traded products reached a new record high of US$2.55 trillion at the end of May 2014. Canada represents US$63.2 billion of those assets. This remarkable growth has also brought changes. ETFs started out [Read more]
Investors have been busy putting their money to work in the markets. According to the Investment Company Institute, mutual fund assets worldwide increased to an all-time high of $30.05 trillion at the end of the fourth quarter of 2013, rising $3.2 trillion over the year due primarily to strong [Read more]
Canadian residents, who die owning assets such as vacation properties in the United States or stocks in U.S. companies, may be subject to U.S. estate taxes. For tax purposes, assets include real and tangible personal property situated in the U.S., shares of U.S securities and units of U.S. mutual [Read more]
TD Economics reports that more than 500,000 Canadians spend significant periods of time in the United States. These individuals may be unaware that a Canadian can be deemed a U.S. person and subject to U.S. tax filing requirements if holding certain investment vehicles. The definition of a U.S. [Read more]
Recent technology sector events, such as King Digital Entertainment’s IPO and Facebook’s $19 billion acquisition of WhatsApp, have investors talking about a bubble. Price-earnings ratios in the sector are certainly high, and some valuations may not be realistic, but data show the sector [Read more]
Sensitivity to market volatility and concerns about rising interest rates have many investors turning to alternative strategies as a way to get downside protection. Data provider Hedge Fund Research says total assets in the global hedge fund industry have increased to $2.63 trillion. Meanwhile, [Read more]
