Financial Planning Wisdom
Lifecycle Investing – The Benefits of Diversifying Across Time
“The point is simple: if diversification across asset classes is so good, why not also seek greater diversification across time periods?” – Ian Ayres Last Decade Risk There is a big risk in the way most people save for retirement. The big risk is that the vast majority of the investments most people own during…
Read MoreTFSA vs RRSP – Clawbacks & Income Tax on Seniors
“The future ain’t what it used to be.” – Yogi Berra Tax Free Savings Accounts (TFSA’s) were announced in the 2009 federal budget. At first, it seemed they would be not nearly as useful as RRSP’s since there would be no tax refunds for contributing. However, we are starting to analyze TFSA’s and it seems…
Read More6 Common Myths about Stock Market Returns
How did you do with the 12 questions in the first article of this series? We have found that most investors have quite exaggerated views about long term stock market returns, mainly believing they are much more erratic than they are.
Read MoreCommon Myths about Stock Market Risk
How did you do with the 12 questions in stock market quiz? We have found that most investors have quite exaggerated views about stock market risks, especially after 2008.
Read MoreHow Risky is the Stock Market – How accurate are your perceptions? (Quiz)
“Half the lies they tell about me aren’t true.” – Yogi Berra We talk with people and read articles and books every day about investing, and are constantly shocked at how little most people know about the real risks and returns of the stock markets. The bear market of 2008 has only made the…
Read MoreWhat’s Important About Money to You?
It’s not about the money. What is your real inner motivation for how you handle money – how do you spend it, and how and why do you save it? Having talked to thousands of people about their money, we have found that money is very emotional for people. How you handle it reveals what…
Read MoreTax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) – How should we use it?
The only reason I need these gloves is ’cause of my hands. – Yogi Berra 2009 brings one exciting new development – TFSAs. You may have seen a bunch of news coverage about them. We consider them to be the best new retirement savings vehicle since RRSPs. For many, perhaps most Canadians, they will be…
Read MoreTFSA vs. RRSP – Best Retirement Vehicle?
“You give 100 percent in the first half of the game, and if that isn’t enough, in the second half you give what’s left.” – Yogi Berra Tax Free Savings Accounts (TFSA’s) will be available in 2009. Should we be using them instead of RRSP’s to save for retirement? The short answer is that there…
Read MoreUniversal Life Insurance – or “Term & Invest the Difference”?
There is a saying in the insurance industry – “If the only tool you have is a hammer, then every problem looks like a nail.” There should be a comedy show about many insurance seminars. Insurance advisors are trained to: – “Create a need (for insurance) and then fill it.” – “What we do is…
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