Blog

Cutting Through the Noise


January 18, 2016

By Tom Bradley

The toughest decision in investing

People are saying it's time to get out of the market. Here's why staying in means better returns in the long run.

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December 21, 2015

By Tom Bradley

Who could have predicted these economic and market variables in 2015?

In his last Globe article of 2015, Tom reflects back on a wild year.

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December 3, 2015

By Tom Bradley

Balance Your Portfolio With Care

With "safer" assets being expensive and growth tough to come by, investors need to balance their portfolios with care.

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October 29, 2015

By Tom Bradley

Volatile Year Offers Investors Ideal Opportunity for a Real Gut Check

Investors have seen it all this year - which makes it an ideal time to assess your portfolio. We walk through a few simple steps you can take.

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October 14, 2015

By Tom Bradley

How to Narrow the 'Behavior Gap' That's Hurting Your Portfolio

In his Globe and Mail column, Tom highlights four things you can do to improve long-term returns.

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September 23, 2015

By Tom Bradley

Why I'm Buying Stocks Again

In his latest Globe article, Tom explains why he's more optimistic about stocks after a choppy summer.

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August 17, 2015

By Tom Bradley

Your Retirement Depends on How Well You Understand Your Portfolio Now

In his latest Globe article, Tom emphasizes that how you invest now will play a big role in your standard of living in the last third of your life.

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July 15, 2015

By Tom Bradley

Three Disconnects in the Markets Add to Confusion

There are always disconnects in the markets. Things that are out of whack with what we've come to expect. As Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett's investment partner points out in the quote above, there seems to be more than usual right now.

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June 4, 2015

By Tom Bradley

Evaluate Advisers, Not Just Institutions

When picking an investment firm to work with, the people and approach are the biggies. Tom elaborates in his Globe and Mail column.

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May 27, 2015

By Tom Bradley

Investors, Beware the Love Affair with Short-term Results

A look at what you can do to protect yourself from short-termitis and best-number syndrome.

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May 13, 2015

By Tom Bradley

Amid Market Confusion, Let's Not Toss Valuations Out the Window

With bonds and stocks looking expensive, it's not such a bad thing to have some cash set aside for a rainy day.

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April 20, 2015

By Tom Bradley

Loonie, Oil Decline All Part of the 'Great Rebalancing'

A look at how the recent moves in exchange rates and energy prices have recast the shape of trade and capital flows.

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February 26, 2015

By Tom Bradley

Turn the Clock Ahead and Get Serious About Your Retirement Plan

The earlier you get engaged in your retirement plan, the better.

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February 18, 2015

By Tom Bradley

Six Valuable Lessons From Oil's Collapse

A good crisis should never be wasted.

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January 15, 2015

By Tom Bradley

No One Can Predict the Future - Not Even Financial Advisers

Don't let near-term forecasts cloud your investment decisions.

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October 18, 2014

By Tom Bradley

Three Ways to Manage Risk in this Volatile Market

Looking at managing risk through the lens of three types of investors.

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September 23, 2014

By Tom Bradley

Four Questions You Need to Answer About Your Current Asset Mix

The down part of any market cycle is when the biggest mistakes are made, but bull markets also require discipline, patience and fortitude.

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September 2, 2014

By Tom Bradley

Unfinished Business: It's Time to End Embedded Commissions

CRM2 represents a huge step forward, but without eliminating the complexity and potential conflicts inherent in trailers, it’s unfinished business.

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July 23, 2014

By Tom Bradley

Want to be a Better Investor? Think of Yourself as the CEO

Much has been written about the flaws of the investment industry. Recently Michael Lewis stirred the pot with his book about high-frequency trading called Flash Boys. In this space, I’ve talked often about high fees, complex products, unattainable promises, and ...

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June 24, 2014

By Tom Bradley

Staying Calm in the Calm

When I was in Toronto a few weeks ago, I was walking north on Bay Street toward King and was struck by how quiet it was. It was probably just a lull in the day, but I couldn’t help but feel it was analogous to where we are in the capital markets. Things are calm ...

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May 8, 2014

By Tom Bradley

Fixed Income's New Reality

When I headed west to join Phillips, Hager & North in 1991, I had to learn about bonds, and fast. My background as an equity analyst wasn’t going to cut it with the balanced pension clients I’d be working with. Fortunately, PH&N was already one of Canada’s ...

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April 2, 2014

By Tom Bradley

Three Ways we Let the Power of Compounding Slip Through our Fingers

Set up a long-term investment plan and stick to it. It’s easy to say and difficult to do. What makes it so hard are the inevitable market extremes, which range from “I can retire today” euphoria to “I hate the stock market” depression. At both ends of the spectrum, it’s ...

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March 12, 2014

By Tom Bradley

Live in the Future, Embrace the Irrational and Feel Terrible About Good Decisions

“Your investment philosophy is very interesting. What you’re saying about investing, does that apply to how you live your life?” I was asked this question at the end of a media interview. My response: “Hell no. They’re very different. If I lived my life the way ...

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February 19, 2014

By Tom Bradley

Unless You Can Predict the Future, Stick to Your Portfolio Strategy

I see it all the time – people unwilling to invest in stocks because of the debt situation in the United States, Europe, China or Canada, the economy’s dependence on central bank stimulation or China’s slowdown. Their hesitation may pay off one day, but ...

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January 20, 2014

By Tom Bradley

2013 Should Have Been Great for ETFs. It Wasn't

Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are the most talked about product trend in the wealth management industry. I’m not sure what comes second, but it’s not even close. An overwhelming majority of commentators and bloggers recommend indexing with ETFs ...

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