The average investor underperforms virtually all other traditional asset classes, even when inflation increases are included. J.P. Morgan, comparing 20-year annualized returns by asset class, found the average investor rings in at 2.1% compared to the S&P 500 Index at 8.2%. This [Read more]
According a recent BMO report on charitable giving, fifty-two per cent of wealthy Canadians choose to donate to charities to which they have a personal connection. More than half of those say their motivation to give is based on the desire to have an impact on their community. Only 21 per cent [Read more]
According to Deloitte, the Canadian marketplace is home to over $14 billion in publicly traded convertible debentures. Deloitte notes their appeal is growing because convertible debentures allow issuers to take advantage of lower cash costs and high yield potential, and they also give investors [Read more]
Canadians have many options when it comes to managing their investment portfolios. Most opt for full-service investments firms while others choose discount brokerages or robo advisor services. Those choosing to go it alone should make sure they fully understand their options before proceeding. [Read more]
A poll done by BMO Financial Group found that one-quarter of Canadians do not feel comfortable discussing finances with their children and another 28 per cent do not feel they have the resources to talk with children about financial matters. While 64 per cent of Canadians noted that the current [Read more]
Cash reserves held by Canadians have risen significantly since the global financial crisis. Earlier this year, CIBC World Markets reported that Canadians currently hold $75 billion in cash. That’s almost 10 per cent of the total value of overall personal liquid assets in Canada. CIBC also [Read more]
The independent research and consultancy firm ETFGI confirms 2015 was another banner year for the global ETFs/ETPs industry, with US$372.0 billion in net new assets – a 10% increase over the 2014 record of US$338.3 billion. Global assets under management grew from US$2.784 trillion to US$2.992 [Read more]
According to Investor Economics, one million U.S. citizens living in Canada have $30 billion invested in mutual fund industry assets. Meanwhile, TD Economics reports that over 500,000 Canadians spend significant periods of time in the United States. While the former likely know their U.S. tax [Read more]
For many Canadians, tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs) may be the most advantageous change made to the tax code since RRSPs were launched in 1957. Many professionals even contend that the popularity of TFSAs will ultimately surpass that of RRSPs. However, despite countless clarifications by [Read more]
According to a recent survey done by Franklin Templeton, Canadians are generally quite optimistic about their future, with 92% looking forward to retirement. On the whole, Canadians are planning on traveling, spending time with friends and family, and pursuing hobbies. Despite the optimism, 82% are [Read more]
It’s been a rocky year for investors but that doesn’t mean things need to get worse as we near tax loss selling season. Some prudent planning done now can reap dividends later. Generally speaking, most retail investors conduct tax loss selling during the latter part of November and the first [Read more]
Every year many Canadian families are face with paying for a large portion of their child’s post-graduate education. A study conducted by BMO Global Asset Management found that 70% of parents are worried their children will not be able to afford university or college. As a result, they are [Read more]
Investors pay fees for portfolio management, as they do for any professional service, but many are unaware of the variety of options regarding fee structure. One of the most popular is the fee-based pricing model. According to PriceMetrix, fee-based structures are the preferred method of [Read more]
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]
