Cutting Through the Noise
June 4, 2015
When picking an investment firm to work with, the people and approach are the biggies. Tom elaborates in his Globe and Mail column.
Read MoreMay 27, 2015
A look at what you can do to protect yourself from short-termitis and best-number syndrome.
Read MoreMay 13, 2015
With bonds and stocks looking expensive, it's not such a bad thing to have some cash set aside for a rainy day.
Read MoreApril 20, 2015
A look at how the recent moves in exchange rates and energy prices have recast the shape of trade and capital flows.
Read MoreFebruary 26, 2015
The earlier you get engaged in your retirement plan, the better.
Read MoreFebruary 18, 2015
January 15, 2015
Don't let near-term forecasts cloud your investment decisions.
Read MoreOctober 18, 2014
Looking at managing risk through the lens of three types of investors.
Read MoreSeptember 23, 2014
The down part of any market cycle is when the biggest mistakes are made, but bull markets also require discipline, patience and fortitude.
Read MoreSeptember 2, 2014
CRM2 represents a huge step forward, but without eliminating the complexity and potential conflicts inherent in trailers, it’s unfinished business.
Read MoreJuly 23, 2014
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 ...
Read MoreJune 24, 2014
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 ...
Read MoreMay 8, 2014
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 ...
Read MoreApril 2, 2014
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 ...
Read MoreMarch 12, 2014
“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 ...
Read MoreFebruary 19, 2014
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 ...
Read MoreJanuary 20, 2014
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 ...
Read MoreJanuary 15, 2014
What a year 2013 was. Everybody’s portfolio was up (or almost everybody), and most were up a lot. It was an unusual year, but not only because of strong returns. For Canadian investors, a barbell shape may best describe the 2013 results. On one ...
Read MoreDecember 13, 2013
A long stock market run goes through many phases. There’s a healthy debate going on right now as to where this one is at – does it have further to go, or is it over? In assessing where we are, it’s useful to look back at how things unfolded over the last four and a ...
Read MoreNovember 11, 2013
What now? Stock markets have been on a roll and investors who’ve been leery about owning stocks are now wading back into the risk pool. With good returns comes confidence. In the face of this better vibe, it’s important that investors don’t stray from...
Read MoreOctober 4, 2013
Let’s pretend it’s two years ago and we’re having coffee. I ask you to predict how your stock portfolio will do over the next two years, but there’s a twist. I have divine insight and can tell you in advance what September, 2013, will look like. As it happens, we're...
Read MoreJune 24, 2013
Over the last couple of weeks, the markets have been in retreat and the headlines have turned decidedly negative (the latter due to the former). Investors are nervous about what is going to happen next. My response? Don’t let the recent mayhem put you off track...
Read MoreMay 13, 2013
"Should I get out of the market?" I'm finding this question is coming up again, prompted either by the Dow hitting all-time highs or the central bankers' perilous high wire act (performed without a net). It depends on the week. But, while we know all...
Read MoreJanuary 19, 2013
A young client phoned this week to ask if she was invested in mutual funds. She’d heard they were high cost and not the place to be. While the call was a little disconcerting given that we only use our own funds to build client portfolios, it was not surprising. Her...
Read MoreJanuary 5, 2013
I’m constantly hearing that it’s been a tough few years for money managers. It’s true that the macro-economic situation has brought uncertainty and volatility, and there’s been no such thing as “safe” income. But in one respect, the past couple of years...
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